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Raptor, Germany (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter xrxss15
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stevethehydra
Well-known member
Is it? The colours look very odd to me, especially that yellowish-buff of most of the underparts contrasting with the colder grey/white of the head and outer wing.
It reminds me more of Rough-legged, though still odd for that species. Compare e.g. https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=540802 (would be quite similar without the dark belly).
It reminds me more of Rough-legged, though still odd for that species. Compare e.g. https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=540802 (would be quite similar without the dark belly).
lou salomon
the birdonist
Swainson's Hawk. :king:
just kidding of course - it's a pale phase juvenile common buzzard but far from being typical.
just kidding of course - it's a pale phase juvenile common buzzard but far from being typical.
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
I agree, among the number of different plumages we can see, this one is a fairly common pale type indeed. It can depend in which part of Europe though.
Sangahyando
Well-known member
Not exactly "typical" in my experience, but I've seen a few similar ones. I guess you could say that the basic pattern, sans colours, looks pretty typical, and the yellowish tone by itself isn't terribly rare either, it's just variable in its extent.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
And to me, never seen anything approaching this plumage and like others, it reminded me of Swainson's Hawk.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Swainson's Hawk. :king:
just kidding of course - it's a pale phase juvenile common buzzard but far from being typical.
Form Lou, form!!!.....
Phase
'a distinct period or stage in a process of change or forming part of something's development.'
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Form
‘A piece of paper one writes on’
If form can have more than one meaning, why can’t phase?
‘A piece of paper one writes on’
If form can have more than one meaning, why can’t phase?
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
So does it? Show me how the word phase, can be correctly used to refer to something that will not alter it's state or appearance and I'll concede the point.
The fact is that this term has been wrongly applied by many for a very long time, it has been discussed before but if you want to reinvent the meaning just to be argumentative, then that's up to you, carry on.
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Maffong
Well-known member
I've literally seen dozens of similar Buzzards here in Germany. Even though of course there's great variation between Common Buzzards in general and light morph birds in particular this individual didn't stick out to me as especially interesting. Of course 'typical' might not have been the best wording, however it's not an uncommon sight here.
However, if others don't see this morph regularly, I wonder if there might be a geographical component to this?!
Maffong
However, if others don't see this morph regularly, I wonder if there might be a geographical component to this?!
Maffong
KenM
Well-known member
I can't speak for other parts of the UK but....in my locality (NE.London) the Buzzards are much of a much-ness....typical shown, and as far removed from the OP's as it might get?
Cheers
Attachments
Agree Ken. I've never seen a Buzzard like the OP's in the UK, though some very pale ones in France.
Sangahyando
Well-known member
That one looks typical indeed, but I've seen even darker ones in some places, some even evoking the image of a Harris' Hawk or Black Hawk.
I think the yellowish ones like the OP's (or the one that I've seen several times on my local patch) are probably a lot less common outside of (Northern) Germany. We also have some very pale individuals over here.
Nobody is reinventing the word, phase is correctly applied - in zoological terms, it can refer to a 'genetic variety of an animal's coloration'
Even says so in the Oxford Dictionary
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Reinvent the meaning just to be argumentative? Classy.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/color-phase
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/colour_phase
And any number of other dictionaries, online or otherwise.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/colour_phase
And any number of other dictionaries, online or otherwise.
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