Honey Buzzard confirmation please, France April (1 Viewer)

vilbs

Well-known member

• May 14, 2018

• #1

Hi there could someone confirm the attached is a Honey Buzzard please. Normally I just see standard Buzzards or Kites but this seems a mixture so I guess from the tail it's a Honey B.
Many thanks.

 

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KenM

Well-known member

• May 14, 2018

• #2

Certainly a Kite species...not a Honey Buzzard.

Cheers

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• May 14, 2018

• #3

Black Kite for me.

 

B

BobbitWorm45

Well-known member

• May 15, 2018

• #4

Maybe it's just me but I can only see 5 fingers on wing? Red Kite?

 

vilbs

Well-known member

• May 15, 2018

• #5

I had just been reading about the differences between Red and Black and saw that there should be 6 wing fingers for a Black. I have uploaded the only other equally blurry shot I got - I can only really count 5.
It's the tail that has me stumped - just not what I would expect from a Kite (Red or Black). Would love it to be a Black Kite but I am starting to think it's a standard Red.

 

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M

mark clements

New member

• May 15, 2018

• #6

five fingers, v shaped tail with black tips, greyish (not too pigeon like head) white patches on wing looks like a red kite to me.
see Steve Oakes photo for similar tail shape etc http://www.worldbirds.co.uk/red_kite.aspx?key=235
Best
Harry

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• May 15, 2018

• #7

Black Kite for me


A

 

B

BobbitWorm45

Well-known member

• May 15, 2018

• #8

Must say with the second image with more spread wing tips, looks more Black Kite

 

tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• May 15, 2018

• #9

it's a Black Kite, Red Kite would never show strong barring on primary window
it also has 6 fingers but as the bird is in active flight, the 6th finger is difficult see, would it be soaring it would be easy to see

 

vilbs

Well-known member

• May 15, 2018

• #10

Fascinating information from everyone. Thanks guys. Never knew of the Black Kite before and now I know they have 6 fingers! A first for me. Thanks for taking the time to respond as ever. All the best.

 

S

skbirder

Well-known member

• May 15, 2018

• #11

A bird in its second calendar-year (ie still in juvenile plumage) due the strong black mask, bold underpart streaking and homogenous plumage and absence of moult.