Help identifying this bird (1 Viewer)

[BenSu]

I saw this large bird circling high up near Dinorwig Quarry, Llanberis, North Wales. I'm sure it's probably just a buzzard (no offence to buzzards). But I'm not sure. Apologies for the poor quality images.

 

[THE_FERN]

It's a corvid (crow), most likely raven but I find it difficult to be sure given image quality. It's either that or carrion crow

 

[stevethehydra]

I'd say raven based on:

• size of head/bill in the first pic
• tail shape in the second
• length/extent of primary "fingers" in both

and maybe more importantly:

• mountain location
• confusion with buzzard (I've several times been unsure between Raven and Buzzard until I got the binoculars or camera zoom on them, but find it hard to imagine the same with Carrion Crow... Rook, maybe...)

The thing I'm most unsure about in these photos is the apparent light-coloured areas - unless they are just lighting/camera artefacts? BenSu, did the bird consistently appear to have light patches, or was it all-dark in reality?

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

Looks like the head and bill of an eagle to me: brown head, huge mostly yellow bill (see White-tailed Eagle).

However these images are full of artefacts, the overall shape doesn't fit.

 

[delia todd]

Hi BenSu and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. Sorry I can't be of further help with the identification. Did you get any other pictures at all?

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[THE_FERN]

Looks like the head and bill of an eagle to me: brown head, huge mostly yellow bill (see White-tailed Eagle).

However these images are full of artefacts, the overall shape doesn't fit.


View attachment 1640138

or the tail of a really weird left pointing duck...

Tbh don't think it's possible to be definitive with images of this quality.

 

[Thijsdekruif]

With this shape of the tail and the very obvious fingers, I would say Raven.

 

[birdboybowley]

Raven

 

[njlarsen]

Are these two images even showing the same bird? second photo looks like a hooded crow to me.
Niels

 

[Thijsdekruif]

Are these two images even showing the same bird? second photo looks like a hooded crow to me.
Niels

I thought so for a moment, too. But I think it is lighting. The shape of the bird is clearly a Raven.