Raptor with pale belly, northern Iraq (1 Viewer)

sharifaone

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2017

• #1

Birding by a river early this morning revealed this fellow on a post. I'm confused by the patchy coloration. Especially noted are the pale belly, pale patch on breast, dark tail, and fairly pale head. Maybe a immature Booted Eagle??

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Mar 31, 2017

• #2

Common Buzzard for me, presumably Steppe subspecies vulpinus.

 

A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2017

• #3

Agree.

 

sharifaone

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2017

• #4

Thanks Nutcracker and aeshna5. I hadn't really considered Steppe Buzzard because they aren't around here during the winter, and I didn't think that they had started migrating here yet. But after you suggested Steppe Buzzard, I was able to Google various images that do include the pale belly, since my Collins Field Guide doesn't have any images with pale bellied birds. Thanks for steering me in the right direction!

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Apr 1, 2017

• #5

sharifaone said:

I hadn't really considered Steppe Buzzard because they aren't around here during the winter, and I didn't think that they had started migrating here yet.

Click to expand...

I did wonder about timing, but thought that they were fairly early migrants, with the end of March OK when it may still have another 2-3,000 km northward journey yet to do.