Harriers to id (W Slovenia) (1 Viewer)

[Hippolais]

The last week, by the Cerknica lake, I noticed quite a few harriers, some of those were pretty odd to be Montagu's, with dark secondaries and pale primaries. Any opinion, please??

 

[skbirder]

All seem to be Montagu's Harriers based on head and underwing pattern. Birds 1-3 are 2nd calendar year. Bird 4 is hard to judge on my screen but looks to have moulted its axillaries so could be a 3 cy female. Bird 5 is 2 calendar year.

 

[FaroeRagnar]

why isn't bird no. 3 a pallid harrier female 2nd cal.?

Seems pale, with a pale hand, grey inner primary-tips and doesn't seem very narrow winged

 

[CARERY]

1 and 3 seems to be the same bird (broken tip of p8)... looks really pale for a pure Monty, no? But I'm hesitant to call it a Pallid either.

 

[arcadillor]

I agree all Montagu’s harrier

 

[skbirder]

looks really pale for a pure Monty, no?

The paleness is bleaching from a winter of tropical sun on juvenile feathers. 2 cy Montagu's (or Pallids) often look washed-out in May.