Besra or Shikra? (1 Viewer)

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WaqarM

Active member

• Dec 18, 2019

• #1

Hello everyone,

There is a discussion going on different birding forums if it is a Besra or a Shikra. This was shot in the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan. A couple of people have identified it as a Besra but someone mentioned that it would be far from its forest breeding ground so the possibility is low. Around the same area an Orental Dollarbird was also photographed outside its forest habitat.

What is your opinion?

Thank you.

 

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Seth Miller

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2019

• #2

I'd say Besra. Can't figure out how to get a Shikra from this photo. I haven't had experience with Besra though, so I could be wrong.

 

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WaqarM

Active member

• Dec 18, 2019

• #3

Seth Miller said:

I'd say Besra. Can't figure out how to get a Shikra from this photo. I haven't had experience with Besra though, so I could be wrong.

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Thank you. I have mentioned Shikra because some people on another group have been mentioning that juvenile Shikra is very close to a Besra. Can you please further elaborate the basis for excluding Shikra as it will enhance my knowledge. Do you have any other specie in mind if it is neither a Besra or a Shikra?

 

Seth Miller

Well-known member

• Dec 18, 2019

• #4

To me the mesial stripe is too pronounced and long for Shikra and the wings feel a bit too "thick". Also the barring on the chest seems to be fairly typical of Besra and I haven't found juv Shikra with that kind of barring. The juv Shikra tend to have more "pearl" spots or stripes. https://ebird.org/media/catalog?taxonCode=shikra1&mediaType=p&sort=rating_rank_desc&q=Shikra&age=i,j

I'd be interested in hearing what more experienced people think as well.

 

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WaqarM

Active member

• Dec 19, 2019

• #5

Here are more pictures.

 

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andyb39

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2019

• #6

It looks good for Besra to me.

 

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Grahame Walbridge

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2019

• #7

Immature Shikra IMO. Tail pattern is wrong for Besra which show black and pale tail bars of equal width.

Thanks for posting additional images Waqar.

Grahame

 

Last edited: Dec 19, 2019

JANJ

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2019

• #8

Maybe this will help...

https://photographyandbirds.wordpre...lumage-descriptions-of-six-accipiter-species/

JanJ

 

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andyb39

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2019

• #9

Grahame Walbridge said:

Immature Shikra IMO. Tail pattern is wrong for Besra which show black and pale tail bars of equal width.

Thanks for posting additional images Waqar.

Grahame

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Yes, should have looked at the tail as well as the head.