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Western Marsh Harrier? S'Albufera Mallorca 3 Oct (1 Viewer)

Andy Hurley

Andy Hurley

Gotta love nature!
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Hi,
I photoed this Western Marsh Harrier? in S'Albufera, Mallorca, Spain on 03 Okt this year. It has only got four fingers and has a the same colour head as the rest of the body. It acted like all the other cream headed females. Is this Western Marsh Harrier or something else? The Collins mentions a rare Dark morph with dark head, but this bird doesn't have golden lines on its back.

thanks
 

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it's because p7 is shed due to moult.
newly moulted p6 is the first (inner) finger, then comes old p8-p10.
note different colours of rectrices also - dark ones are fresh.
and of course it is a marsh harrier.
 
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