Just a Common Buzzard? (1 Viewer)

Earnest lad · Mar 30, 2025

Please may I request advice. I saw a bird of prey some distance away flying over some trees, today while birding in Lancashire, UK, and just assumed the bird to be the usual Buzzard. I pointed the camera at it and quickly grabbed an image as it was about to disappear. Unfortunately the picture is blurred. I do apologize.
However upon getting home and viewing the image, I wondered whether there is a slight chance that the bird might be something else. I thought maybe just maybe (a) the wings are too narrow - notwithstanding the angle can make it seem so (b) the fingers are too long; especially at the forewing (c) the tail is a bit too long (d) the wing seems more angular than I seem to imagine buzzard as being. (e) The underside of the forewing seems pale whereas most buzzards have, I gather, dark underwings at the front.
I am happy to be told it is a Buzzard, but am hoping against hope.
Thank you.

tconzemi · Mar 30, 2025

I agree almost everything looks wrong for Buzzard; after careful consideration and some headache the ID is straightforward: very bad, deceptive picture of a Common Buzzard ;-)

Alexander Stöhr · Mar 30, 2025

Hello,

I agree with you and Tom: in the end its a Common Buzzard trying hard to look like a Hooded Crow (no offense to this cute bird of prey, but carnival is over)

Julie50 · Mar 30, 2025

I find the behaviour and “look” of common buzzards fascinating! Yesterday I watched a particularly large, dark bird behave almost like a kestrel. At times hovering in the same position for a good while before swooping down.

Earnest lad · Apr 1, 2025

tconzemi said:
I agree almost everything looks wrong for Buzzard; after careful consideration and some headache the ID is straightforward: very bad, deceptive picture of a Common Buzzard ;-)

Thank you for helping me confirm my suspicions!

Earnest lad · Apr 1, 2025

Alexander Stöhr said:
Hello,

I agree with you and Tom: in the end its a Common Buzzard trying hard to look like a Hooded Crow (no offense to this cute bird of prey, but carnival is over)

Thank you.

Earnest lad · Apr 1, 2025

Julie50 said:
I find the behaviour and “look” of common buzzards fascinating! Yesterday I watched a particularly large, dark bird behave almost like a kestrel. At times hovering in the same position for a good while before swooping down.

I understand the very similar Rough-legged Buzzard is particularly given to hovering 'Kestrel style'. However, I have never seen that species myself. I am trying to get into the habit of double-checking every Common Buzzard I see, in case one day I get a rarity LOL

tconzemi · Apr 1, 2025

Earnest lad said:
I am trying to get into the habit of double-checking every Common Buzzard I see, in case one day I get a rarity LOL

That's the only way to go to a raptorologist, know your Common Buzzard and your Common Kestrel

Rotherbirder · Apr 2, 2025

tconzemi said:
That's the only way to go to a raptorologist, know your Common Buzzard and your Common Kestrel

... and your Sparrowhawk!

RB

la_ravachol · Apr 3, 2025

Why not Marsh Harrier? That was my immediate thought.

Earnest lad · Apr 12, 2025

la_ravachol said:
Why not Marsh Harrier? That was my immediate thought.

Thats a thought. I was also wondering on the off chance if it might be an Osprey. I respect the opinions of those that contributed here as they know a lot more than me. But could it be the "fingers" on the end of the wings are too long for a Buzzard?

THE_FERN · Apr 12, 2025

Earnest lad said:
Thats a thought. I was also wondering on the off chance if it might be an Osprey. I respect the opinions of those that contributed here as they know a lot more than me. But could it be the "fingers" on the end of the wings are too long for a Buzzard?

Marsh harrier (any Harrier) would show proportionately longer wings than this, as would osprey. I wondered briefly about goshawk but wing shape is wrong

Earnest lad · Apr 12, 2025

THE_FERN said:
Marsh harrier (any Harrier) would show proportionately longer wings than this, as would osprey. I wondered briefly about goshawk but wing shape is wrong

Thank you so much. I will stick with Buzzard at best and "unidentifiable" at worst LOL

Just a Common Buzzard? (1 Viewer)

More options

Earnest lad

Well-known member

Attachments

tconzemi

Tom

Alexander Stöhr

Well-known member

Julie50

Mostly in the Midlands :)

Earnest lad

Well-known member

Earnest lad

Well-known member

Earnest lad

Well-known member

tconzemi

Tom

Rotherbirder

Well-known member

la_ravachol

Well-known member

Earnest lad

Well-known member

THE_FERN

Well-known member

Earnest lad

Well-known member

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread