Mouldy
skywatcher, dragonhunter
ID - Mallorcan Sparrowhawk?
Having noticed a lot of identification query threads, thought I might try my luck on this from my notebook of last October which remains a bit of a mystery.
I was birding in the Bocquer Valley Mallorca (Marvellous place) when a smallish raptor glided at speed past my line of vision at just above eye level against the backdrop of the cliffs so plumage showed well in bright sunshine. I got a good look at it and it could only have been a Sparrowhawk in my mind, but upper colouring was very dark grey, almost black.
I know from my limited experience abroad that continental birds in general have much stronger colouring than our British birds so put it down to a case of just that, but have since found there is a race of darker plumaged African Sparrowhawk and began to wonder, but have not found any details on the bird or images to compare and don't even know if Mallorca would be within its range.
Any thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated. :flyaway:
Having noticed a lot of identification query threads, thought I might try my luck on this from my notebook of last October which remains a bit of a mystery.
I was birding in the Bocquer Valley Mallorca (Marvellous place) when a smallish raptor glided at speed past my line of vision at just above eye level against the backdrop of the cliffs so plumage showed well in bright sunshine. I got a good look at it and it could only have been a Sparrowhawk in my mind, but upper colouring was very dark grey, almost black.
I know from my limited experience abroad that continental birds in general have much stronger colouring than our British birds so put it down to a case of just that, but have since found there is a race of darker plumaged African Sparrowhawk and began to wonder, but have not found any details on the bird or images to compare and don't even know if Mallorca would be within its range.
Any thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated. :flyaway:
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