Bird ID: SW France (1 Viewer)

[BillN]

seen in April 2014 - SW France - had a run in with a Buzzard and in the end they both went their separate ways

Hen Harrier Male?

 

[dalat]

Common Buzzard as well...

 

[BillN]

Common Buzzard as well...

seen quite a lot out here but never seen one that colour - maybe the light?

I thought that it was a large pigeon or Dove at first because of it's size - then I cropped and zoomed as saw that it wasn't

Maybe the size comparisons were distorted by the distances

Thanks - here's another image

 

[Dawsy]

I believe it's obligatory in examples like this for someone to point out that the French call common buzzards buse variable and they are indeed highly variable. I've been excited by these really pale ones a few times but have come to the conclusion it's best to enjoy a striking looking bird that just happens to be a common species.

 

[dalat]

seen quite a lot out here but never seen one that colour - maybe the light?

As Dawsy says, they can be extremly variable. In northern Europe, variants like yours or even whiter ones seem to be quite common, in the south much less.