The common buzzard is widely distributed across the western and central Palearctic, extending to eastern Asian areas (BirdLife International, 2024). In Europe, it also has a broad distribution but is absent from the northern coldest regions (Keller et al., 2020). This species breeds throughout the Iberian Peninsula, being more abundant in the northwest due to greater Atlantic influence. In southern areas, it occurs in forested and mountainous habitats (Tapia 2016; Tapia in SEO/BirdLife, 2022). It is scarce in deforested agricultural valleys and in the most arid regions. It has recently been recorded breeding in Mallorca, and in the Canary Islands, the endemic subspecies B. b. insularum occurs stably, except in Lanzarote, Alegranza, and La Graciosa, where it is extinct (Quilis and Barone in Lorenzo, 2007).

It occupies almost the entire territory of Madrid, being absent from the metropolitan area and rarer in the deforested areas of the southeastern half. It occurs in a wide variety of biotopes with some trees, from mountain pine forests to dehesas, riparian woods, and cultivated areas with scattered trees (Díaz et al., 1994).

Within the national park, it has been detected in more open forested areas near grasslands and shrublands. Notable population centers are found in El Purgatorio (Rascafría) and the Altos de la Morcuera. Observations also occur along much of the perimeter outside the highest altitudes and rocky zones.