Raptor, Cagliari, Sardegna, 20 October 2021 (1 Viewer)

[wentmat]

I would appreciate help with ID'ing this raptor species that I saw near Cagliari, and managed only a couple of poor quality photos of.

At first I thought it was a buzzard, but the smallish head and general slender appearance has me rethinking this. Marsh Harrier is common in this area, and I am now wondering whether it may be a Male Marsh Harrier?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
jizz, colouration, including what can be guessed as a pale u-shaped breast band makes this a Common Buzzard to me.
It is no Honey Buzzard or a Marsh Harrier, but there are other forms of Common Buzzards that might well be considered here (Steppe Buzzard, "Gibraltar Buzzard"), so I hope like you for others to jump in.

 

[wentmat]

Many thanks!

 

[stevethehydra]

Common/Steppe Buzzard impression for me, definitely not a harrier.