Raptor ID: Berat, Albania (1 Viewer)

[louisfh]

I saw this raptor at a distance without binoculars, so took a couple of photos. My first impressions were of a large falcon, but to be honest I'm not sure what it is at all from the photos. The second photo shows (I believe) a hirundine at similar-ish distance for some size context.

These were taken on the 25th of July 2012 from the castle in Berat, Southern Albania.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Hotspur]

Wide hipped, banded tail, white utcs. Goshawk is where I get to but I could be miles off.

 

[lou salomon]

small hipped and square tailed - sprawk for me.

 

[phil baber]

Without reading comments before looking at photos, female Sparrowhawk was my impression. With plucked prey for its young.

 

[louisfh]

Thanks for all the responses. I'll settle for an Albanian sprawk, if I hadn't got any photos it would've gone down as a strange Falcon based on flight. I'm going to blame its extra dead weight for that...