Buzzard ID from Western Pakistan (1 Viewer)

[Orioluskundoo]

Upland buzzard?
Location: Waziristan, Khyber PakhtunKhwa Province, Pakistan
Date: Middle November 2023

 

[Butty]

Dunno. Looks like a regular common buzzard though.

 

[01101001]

No idea; try those two threads.

Buzzard sp - Horton's Plain, Sri Lanka Nov 2023

I would like some help in the identification of the Buzzard sp photographed on Horton's Plain 10 days ago. Historically it has been considered that Himalayan Buzzard wintered here and this is how it was called by local guides. I had my doubts as it didn't attune with my memories of that taxon...

www.birdforum.net

Eastern Buzzards: what determines the width of the dark trailing edge of underwing?

I am interested in this question, largely because I am researching the difference between Buteo japonicus and Buteo refectus. Ebird mentions the more prominent dark trailing edge of the underwing of refectus as one separating feature. (The other feature is marginally darker trousers. I don't...

www.birdforum.net

 

[Orioluskundoo]

Thank you both, I'll try to dig in deeper

 

[andyb39]

It looks a bit like a Himalayan Buzzard with dark upper trousers, dark belly patch, prominent dark carpal parches and fairly narrow dark trailing edge to the wing. There aren't too many records from Pakistan, though, and Common/Steppe Buzzard also occurs. The head looks a bit dark, and the location seems a little far away from previous records. It's certainly not Upland, which has feathered tarsi for a start.

Check out this thread: Serious needed with Buzzard Identification

 

[tconzemi]

It's certainly not Upland, which has feathered tarsi for a start.

Check out this thread: Serious needed with Buzzard Identification

Andy, in my understanding we see the toes and the talons in this bird, whereas the tarsi are hidden in the feathers?

 

[Butty]

we see the toes and the talons in this bird, whereas the tarsi are hidden in the feathers?

Either that or the tarsi are feathered and we're seeing those. But certainly no unfeathered tarsi visible in these photos.

 

[andyb39]

Andy, in my understanding we see the toes and the talons in this bird, whereas the tarsi are hidden in the feathers?

I'd always understood that on Upland Buzzard, the tarsi are feathered right down to the feet, so that in flight only the feet can be seen, which only take up a small area of the undertail-coverts. This image is an example. ML106246061 - Upland Buzzard - Macaulay Library.

By contrast, in this image of Himalayan Buzzard, I think the lower portion of the tarsi can be seen, as well as the feet, taking up a much larger area of the undertail-coverts: ML119539051 - Himalayan Buzzard - Macaulay Library. Please correct me if I'm mislabelling body parts!

It seemed to me that in a couple of the above images, you can just about make out the lower portion of the tarsi, forming a slight V. I could be misinterpreting the images but be that as it may, the feet take up too much space.

 

[tconzemi]

Andy, I see what you mean, still difficult to be sure