Feathers found 14 May, Haute-Savoie,France (1 Viewer)

[Richard Prior]

I came across what I took to be evidence of a Goshawk or Sparrowhawk kill in a forest near our place, mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland. Seeing all the grey breast feathers I assumed they were from a Woodpigeon but I had a closer look just in case, and noted the dark brown tips on many of them as you see in the photo. It’s no doubt obvious to some of you but I can’t think to what species they belong.
As always, thanks in advance for any help.
Richard

 

[Butty]

Is the round thing a 'coin'?? Forgotten they existed...

 

[Frank van Drogen]

Is the round thing a 'coin'?? Forgotten they existed...

You seem literally able to identify anything

 

[Richard Prior]

This is what happens when one gets a reputation for making jokes, hoist by my own petard!

 

[Richard Prior]

I came across what I took to be evidence of a Goshawk or Sparrowhawk kill in a forest near our place, mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland. Seeing all the grey breast feathers I assumed they were from a Woodpigeon but I had a closer look just in case, and noted the dark brown tips on many of them as you see in the photo. It’s no doubt obvious to some of you but I can’t think to what species they belong.
As always, thanks in advance for any help.
Richard

I should add that my initial thoughts towards Woodpigeon were prompted by the quantity of feathers on the ground, too many to have come from a small passerine I would say, so I was thinking Mistle Thrush size upward……….

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
I agree with you, the bird was Mistle Thrush sized, because it is one. Please compare Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) - Feathers on featherbase.info

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

And the pure white groundcolour, lacking yellowish, buffish or cream hues distracts me from the other contender, a Song Thrush. Yes, there are Song Thrushes with very white underparts, but thatsthe reason why I vote for a Mistle Thrush here.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

And I agree with Butty, it’s a 1 € coin. Please note
Number 1 excludes similar 2€ coin, which is larger. Yes, judging size is ... thanks again, Butty
1 Cent coin is uniform reddish brown, if not too worn....

 

[Richard Prior]

And I agree with Butty, it’s a 1 € coin. Please note
Number 1 excludes similar 2€ coin, which is larger. Yes, judging size is ... thanks again, Butty
1 Cent coin is uniform reddish brown, if not too worn....

Thanks Alexander for confirming the ID, I must say though that Butty fell from his usual high standards and was uncharacteristically vague in his response, ‘coin’ is a bit like saying ‘bird sp’-not good enough

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
Yes but I am confident that Butty can identify money to species level and just wanted to concentrate attention to the important thing here, Birds.

No offence you know.

 

[D Halas]

Given that this is a birding forum, we obviously all want bird IDs to species level, but by the same token I'd say that leaving monetary IDs at specie level is fine.

 

[andrew_s]

On a

Hello,
I agree with you, the bird was Mistle Thrush sized, because it is one. Please compare Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) - Feathers on featherbase.info

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

And the pure white groundcolour, lacking yellowish, buffish or cream hues distracts me from the other contender, a Song Thrush. Yes, there are Song Thrushes with very white underparts, but thatsthe reason why I vote for a Mistle Thrush here.

On a Song Thrush beast feather any one barb is either light or dark (hence the arrow-shaped spots), whereas on these Mistle Thrush feathers, the barbs near the end change from light to dark part way along.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Thanks Andrew,

didnt know that!