Morocco Hirundine/Swift (1 Viewer)

rylirk

Well-known member

• Aug 10, 2020

• #1

Hi all. Atrocious picture, but here is an aerial bird from Cap Spartel in northern Morocco in April 2017. Can't decide whether it's a swift (in which case presumably a common/pallid) or a hirundine (not sure which should be present in Northern Morocco in April?)

 

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Alexander Stöhr

Well-known member

• Aug 10, 2020

• #2

I cant help, but first impression of thumbnail was: its a Hobby, isnt it? So are there more pictures, which should help.

 

rylirk

Well-known member

• Aug 10, 2020

• #3

The only other picture is this which, uhh, I doubt will be of any help...

For additional context, this photo was taken from inside the Cave of Hercules looking out to sea, so the bird is relatively low over the ocean and so I strongly doubt it's a hobby.

 

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Last edited: Aug 10, 2020

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Alexander Stöhr

Well-known member

• Aug 10, 2020

• #4

Both are hard pictures and with the second it might be an Hobby or an Eleonora's falcon. But I still struggle to see a Swift/Hirundine with that shape (for example a long arm)

 

dwatsonbirder

Well-known member

• Aug 10, 2020

• #5

Impossible to identify, but for your reference, I've seen both Hobby and Peregrine flying out to sea to hunt hirundines and waders during the autumn.

 

Last edited: Aug 10, 2020

Deb Burhinus

Used to be well known! 😎

• Aug 10, 2020

• #6

Doesn’t look like a falcon to me - look how short the body is compared to the wings. Looks like a swift sp to me (Alpine?) but falcon sp or swift equally likely around rocky coastlines

(I’m not sure which wing is the nearest wing here or whether I’m looking at the mantle or underparts - the second image looks like a squashed spider on the windscreen)

 

Last edited: Aug 10, 2020

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Alexander Stöhr

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #7

Deb Burhinus said:

Doesn’t look like a falcon to me - look how short the body is compared to the wings. Looks like a swift sp to me (Alpine?) but falcon sp or swift equally likely around rocky coastlines

(I’m not sure which wing is the nearest wing here or whether I’m looking at the mantle or underparts - the second image looks like a squashed spider on the windscreen)

Click to expand...

I still have difficulties to see a Swift (Alpine, Common, Pallid) in these pictures. But you are right: I have trying to hard in this case to prove my jizz -ID that this is a Hobby/Eleonoras Falcon . This picture seems unIDable (at least to me).

Thanks for opening my eyes, Deb and Daniel!

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Aug 11, 2020

• #8

Deb Burhinus said:

... - the second image looks like a squashed spider on the windscreen)

Click to expand...

Agreed 3

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Aug 11, 2020

• #9

Alexander Stöhr said:

I still have difficulties to see a Swift (Alpine, Common, Pallid) in these pictures. But you are right: I have trying to hard in this case to prove my jizz -ID that this is a Hobby/Eleonoras Falcon . This picture seems unIDable (at least to me).

Thanks for opening my eyes, Deb and Daniel!

Click to expand...

Don't think I've ever noticed a carpal bend on a Swift or Hurundine such as seen here?

 

Deb Burhinus

Used to be well known! 😎

• Aug 11, 2020

• #10

Alexander Stöhr said:

Thanks for opening my eyes, Deb and Daniel!

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I don’t think anyone’s eyes have been opened the truth be told. I see you always try hard to ‘prove your case’ on these ID threads but to be perfectly honest I find it’s just a waste of my time arguing the case if an image is just unidentifiable - especially when it’s hard enough to even work out the genus let alone the species.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2020

• #11

The first image looks like a Hobby to me, it appears your looking straight up at it with the heavy streaking to the lower body being somewhat palpable, I’ve also seen Hobby, Peregrine, Merlin and Eleanora’s
hunting over the sea.

Cheers

 

dragnil

The glass is half full, but the bottle is empty.

• Aug 12, 2020

• #12

andyadcock said:

Don't think I've ever noticed a carpal bend on a Swift or Hurundine such as seen here?

Click to expand...

Agreed, it's not saying swift to me, but I've no idea what it is.

 

RafaelMatias

Unknown member

• Aug 14, 2020

• #13

From the 1st pic it looks like a nightjar of sorts to me, perhaps European, and perhaps with a few missing tail feathers... Some apparent back striping as well...

 

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pandachris

Well-known member

• Aug 14, 2020

• #14

Assuming that the top left (first photo) is the head/bill, the middle right is the tail and the two lower parts are wings, can cuckoo be ruled out?