TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An upland buzzard, a rare winter migratory bird and a Class II protected species in Taiwan, was rescued in Penghu after being found unable to fly, the Penghu County Government said Friday.

The buzzard, with a wingspan of up to 1.5 m, was discovered Wednesday. The resident reported seeing the bird dive to scavenge food after dogs attacked chickens.

It appeared too weak to take flight following the incident. A veterinarian determined the buzzard had no injuries and confirmed its wings were normal.

Its condition was attributed to exhaustion from migration and food competition. The bird is now under care and will be released back into the wild after recovery.

The upland buzzard, or Buteo hemilasius, is the largest of the three Buteo species found in Taiwan, identified by its prominent wing panels and the nearly unmarked base of its outer primary flight feathers. First recorded in Taiwan in 2004, it remains a rare winter migratory bird with only occasional sightings, per Raptor Research Group of Taiwan.

Taiwan's Act on Wildlife Conservation divides wildlife into two categories, protected species and general species. Protected species are those considered endangered, rare, valuable, or otherwise requiring conservation efforts, while general species include all wildlife not designated as protected.

Animals that are extremely rare in the wild and at imminent risk of extinction are classified as Class I “endangered species.” Those that are rare but not facing an immediate extinction threat are categorized as Class II “rare and valuable species,” while species that are uncommon in Taiwan are designated as Class III “wildlife deserving conservation.”