[Jonny721]

My mum has just got back from a weeks trecking in the desert in Morocco (nearest city was Ouarzazate), and took a couple of photos of birds she saw whilst out there for me to identify. My guesses are Alpine Chough and Lilac Breasted Roller however I'm unsure if either of those occur in the area. Any ideas appreciated.

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

I've no idea whether either occur in the area either, but the second certainly looks like Lilac-breasted Roller. The shape of the first don't really strike me as Chough so much as Jackdaw or even Alpine Chough (possible if taken near the Atlas range I guess?)

[KenM]

I don't know why..but!....I'm getting a BOP feel..as opposed to a Corvid feel for image 1. Indeed...If that Image was taken in Egypt, I'd have suggested Levants as a possibility....

cheers

[Ronayne88]

Why not Little Swifts?

[Jonny721]

She says they were definitly crow sized and flight so not likely to be a Swift sp

[njlarsen]

No one can truly determine size when looking up into a sky like this

Niels

[nickderry]

could the treetop pixels be a jay?

[KenM]

Originally Posted by nickderry

could the treetop pixels be a jay?

That's what I wondered!

[dantheman]

Surely Lilac-breasted Roller would be a mega-rare for the region. And according to range maps in Collins well out of range for Jay (wrong habitat too even if in dry regions in the north)? Looks like a smaller bird compared to the branches imo ...

Chough surely restricted to mountainous regions. The birds in flight do look a Little Swift like, could even be Lesser Kestrel migrating up? Who knows!

[Brian Stone]

The second is surely Jay. Wouldn't have to get far into the hills to start picking them up.

The first could be Alpine Chough but these would only be quite high up - easily possible on a trek in the Atlas. Would be useful to know where the trek went and where the photos were taken.

[Motmot]

My bets would be a flock of Crag/Rock Martins and a Jay

[chris butterworth]

1 The lone bird in the top right has a bit of a raptor feel to it, the others ( judging by the wing/tail length ratio and the 'jzz' ) are Alpine Chough.

2 I don't think the second photo shows a Jay. It doesn't feel right, the bill appears to long and that pale forehead doesn't look like 'burn out'. Early migrating Eur. Roller?

Chris

[Pariah]

2nd bird could be a Marsh Harrier?

Owen

[dantheman]

Originally Posted by Pariah

2nd bird could be a Marsh Harrier?

Or they could even all be Black Kites ... which could fit a circling flock moving north through the 'desert' ...

[Pariah]

Originally Posted by dantheman

Or they could even all be Black Kites ... which could fit a circling flock moving north through the 'desert' ...

Dan,

I meant the perched bird on the tree in the second photo.
Marsh Harrier.

Owen

[dantheman]

... don't rely on me for bird id's on dodgy photos then, if I can't even tell the number 1 from the number 2 ...



<<< goes off to gen up on Sesame Street >>>

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

In hindsight Jay seems right, what race would be found in Morocco?

Why on earth aren't the ones in the first pic Jackdaws? I'd lean towards Alpine Chough as stated earlier, if they're in the Atlas, but otherwise surely Jackdaws are more likely? (I'm sure someone will come along and say they aren't found in Morocco or something )

[Pariah]

On gizz alone first pic is a mix of raptor species to me.

Top right hand bird looks like a falcon. Others in the pic look like larger raptors. Kites maybe.

2nd picture...again...Marsh Harrier!

Owen

[Acrocephalus]

Originally Posted by Pariah

On gizz alone first pic is a mix of raptor species to me.

Top right hand bird looks like a falcon. Others in the pic look like larger raptors. Kites maybe.
Owen

I agree, raptors in the flock picture. I think that at least 2 birds in the group of 4 birds in the centre are Black Kites. I also think that top right hand bird looks like a falcon, probably a Lanner.

[Welsh Peregrine]

Another vote for non-corvids in 1, and jay in 2