Buzzard ID, Peak District UK, May 2023 (1 Viewer)

[djw0208]

Just wondering if this could be a Rough Legged Buzzard rather than Common. I first noticed the white patch on the rump and the witer under-tail, but reading up it does seem to have slightly longer wings when I compare with some of my other Common Buzzard photos, and it was hovering a lot as some of the photos show.

Any other pointers that determine identification either way would be very halpful. Thanks!

 

[Butty]

Tail-pattern, underbody-pattern and underwing-pattern (carpal patches) all wrong, and bill too big. Common buzzard. They do hover very occasionally.

 

[djw0208]

Many thanks - still trying to learn - there is a lot of variation on Common. Thanks for the pointers.

 

[Rotherbirder]

As Butty says; also unlikely to be Rough-leg at this time of year. As you intimate, Rough-leg has a longer-winged, more eagle-like silhouette than Common, but this only becomes apparent with experience of the two species.

 

[Julie50]

Lovely bird though - and great pics

 

[01101001]

A handy comparison here (all photos clickable): Plate 13 - Buzzards, Kites and Osprey - A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia ::Acopian Center for the Environment.

 

[Gary Nicholson]

Just wondering if this could be a Rough Legged Buzzard rather than Common. I first noticed the white patch on the rump and the witer under-tail, but reading up it does seem to have slightly longer wings when I compare with some of my other Common Buzzard photos, and it was hovering a lot as some of the photos show.

Any other pointers that determine identification either way would be very halpful. Thanks!

I’ve seen a very similar bird twice. 5th Sept 2023 being most recent. 1st impression was very large size, regular low level hovering, very light coloured seen through scope at fairly long distance. Different Jizz to common buzzard. 1st impression was very large buzzard that frequently hovers very low level.

 

[Butty]

very large size . . . very large buzzard

Judging the size of a lone bird is notoriously unreliable.