Armenia: buzzards and wheatear (1 Viewer)

E

Egretta

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2020

• #1

Hello,

the following pictures were all taken in Armenia, late may to early june.
I was hoping someone could confirm my identifications, or point out any mistakes I made.

Thanks, Niels

1+2: the same bird: Common or Long-legged Buzzard? I was leaning more towards long-legged myself but I am not sure at all (no experience with the species)
3+4: the same bird: take at the same location as the previous pictures, but it was a different individual. I am pretty sure this is a Common Buzzard. Would this be ssp. vulpinus in Armenia?

 

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E

Egretta

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2020

• #2

5,6 and 7: I believe this is a Long-legged Buzzard, I hope that is correct, it would be a lifer!

8-9: my first thought was Finsch's Wheatear, but the white at the shoulder made me doubt it. Is it an (Eastern) Black-eared Wheatear?

 

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ApusApus

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2020

• #3

With the white wedge shape on the back, the Wheatear is a Finsch's!


Shane

 

Last edited: Apr 1, 2020

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Apr 1, 2020

• #4

L-l B for me.

 

Jean FRANCOIS

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2020

• #5

1 to 7_ Steppe Buzzard
Jean

 

tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Apr 1, 2020

• #6

Jean FRANCOIS said:

1 to 7_ Steppe Buzzard
Jean

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my opinion too

 

R

Rotherbirder

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2020

• #7

tconzemi said:

my opinion too

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... and mine. Doesn't have the more powerful, almost eagle-like silhouette of Long-legged Buzzard.

RB

 

T

Tote

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2020

• #8

The Wheatear to me is a melanoleuca.

 

Jean FRANCOIS

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2020

• #9

Tote said:

The Wheatear to me is a melanoleuca.

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Agree
Jean

 

E

Egretta

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2020

• #10

Thanks for your answers!

For the wheatear: is it correct that the white shoulder is a good feature to ditinguish it from Finsch'?

For the Buzzard: I had never before seen a Steppe Buzzard, nor a Long-legged Buzzard. The buzzards I see in Belgium look a lot like the ones in pictures 3 and 4, and I would not be able to distinguish it from the nominate. Any clues there on how to do it? Are the other ones a more rufous form of the Steppe Buzzard? I don't think I have ever seen one with that colour in Belgium.
Apart from size and shape, are there any marks in the plumage to tell it apart from the Long-legged Buzzard?

 

Jean FRANCOIS

Well-known member

• Apr 1, 2020

• #11

Egretta said:

Thanks for your answers!

For the wheatear: is it correct that the white shoulder is a good feature to ditinguish it from Finsch'?

Apart from size and shape, are there any marks in the plumage to tell it apart from the Long-legged Buzzard?

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Wheatear : Yes, the black is continuous from head to wing. There's also the tail pattern.

Buzzard : The red tail with a dark terminal bar is diagnostic from the Steppe Buzzard.
Jean

 

E

Egretta

Well-known member

• Apr 2, 2020

• #12

Thanks for the info!

 

C

creedence

Well-known member

• Apr 2, 2020

• #13

I think the Wheatear is melanoleuca as on the outer tail feather the black goes up the outer web. Pleschanka has this too, but it has a black back. The black of the head does not connect with the black of the wings.

 

S

smiths

Well-known member

• Apr 4, 2020

• #14

#1-2 show an adult Long-legged Buzzard, since it has no dark tail band.
#3-7 technically do not show Steppe Buzzard but the local subspecies of Common Buzzard, B. b. menetriesi (Caucasian Buzzard).

 

tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Apr 5, 2020

• #15

smiths said:

#1-2 show an adult Long-legged Buzzard, since it has no dark tail band.
#3-7 technically do not show Steppe Buzzard but the local subspecies of Common Buzzard, B. b. menetriesi (Caucasian Buzzard).

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Just to say smiths is right as usual, lacking concentration these times