Joern Lehmhus
Well-known member
it feels more like a displaying buzzard to me, but i can´t convince myself either way....
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UK raptor? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Keith Glasgow
- Start date
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
bitterntwisted said:
Most of the people here seem to be ignoring this possibility (see Post#73)- everyone is so caught up with native species.
From a falconry website:
The Harris hawk (also known as the Bay Winged hawk) is easily recognizd from the true buzzards by its longer wings, longer and thinner tail and longer legs
Last edited:
Jane Turner
Well-known member
I could buy Harris Hawk. I'm not happy with Sparrowhawk and only a little more comfortable with Buzzard. I wonder if any of the other photographs show the structure a little better and from a more favourable angle?
bitterntwisted
Graham Howard Shortt
Capercaillie71 said:
I did suggest an escape in post #23 but was not picked up on. Hardly surprising given my recent ID prowess!
I think that having so many people, including some of considerable experience, torn between two very different raptors, we have to look at other possibilities. Harris Hawks are very widely kept and the behaviour also tallies with what might be expected from an escape. Having only seen one Harris Hawk (an adult which fooled many other observers before I pointed out that one was known to be at large) I hesitate to conclude that this is what the subject bird is, but it's looking a very good candidate from all the images I've googled.
My understanding, BTW, is that wing formula is an extremely reliable ID criteria for all raptors and the several photos conclusively rule out an accipiter.
Graham
Laurence H
Well-known member
Comparing the original picture 1 with the left hand image on the Harris Hawk link is very interesting!
Do we have a winner?!
Do we have a winner?!
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
I know nothing about raptor wing formulas, but looking at some of the suggestions so far, my thoughts are as follows:
The wing length in the photo in post#54 looks far too long for an Accipiter, yet the tail length in all the photos looks much longer than you would expect to see in a buzzard. The behaviour of circling around trying to land in a tree above the observer's head sounds very un-harrier-like.
I think Harris Hawk is worth a bet.
The wing length in the photo in post#54 looks far too long for an Accipiter, yet the tail length in all the photos looks much longer than you would expect to see in a buzzard. The behaviour of circling around trying to land in a tree above the observer's head sounds very un-harrier-like.
I think Harris Hawk is worth a bet.
JANJ
Well-known member
Hello all.
Notice in this adult Harris Hawk the difference in wing shape and number of fingers, especially the bulging secondaries and broad hand, the white base to tail and under tail coverts and the wide white tips to the tail, narrower in juveniles
http://www.pbase.com/dadas115/image/50910050
Notice the underwing pattern in juveniles:
http://www.greglasley.net/harrishawk.html
Conclusion is that it doesn´t look like a Harris Hawk.
JanJ
Notice in this adult Harris Hawk the difference in wing shape and number of fingers, especially the bulging secondaries and broad hand, the white base to tail and under tail coverts and the wide white tips to the tail, narrower in juveniles
http://www.pbase.com/dadas115/image/50910050
Notice the underwing pattern in juveniles:
http://www.greglasley.net/harrishawk.html
Conclusion is that it doesn´t look like a Harris Hawk.
JanJ
Steven Astley
Well-known member
Anybody with any more possible escape species?
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Heh! You wouldn't think so!bitterntwisted said:
timwootton
Well-known member
In my most grumble opinion - the behaviour noted by the observer ought to be given more prominence. A person and several dogs - 40 feet under a tree and the bird STILL tries to land in same tree???? - Personally never had such luck with native BOP - don't know about you lot - regardless of there being a kill in the tree or not. And I know I went for sprawk, but I'm not any further convinced by any of the following arguments. Possibly an escape, it certainly wasn't put-off by the presence of a person and dogs.
jason stannage
Well-known member
what about this, http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/animals/images/primary/red-tailed-hawk-flying.jpg juv red tail
oriole_lad_beds
Oriole_Lad_Beds
PELICAN CROSSING said:
My initial thought was a red-tailed hawk too. I saw an escape in northants last year and although these photos arent crystal clear they reminded me of that bird. Still, im tired and havent thought it through that much yet
Keith Reeder
Watch the birdie...
Yeah the RTH ticks a few boxes - but bear in mind that if it lived in the UK we'd call it a red tailed buzzard, 'cos it's a buteo too...
