Honey buzzards : 3 questions : Lunigiana, Italy (1 Viewer)

[Kinthissa]

Continuing with my summer studies ~

nos. 1,2,3 (seen mid-afternoon, 10 August) : is this a female?

no. 4 (identified by Tom, 26 July) : would you call this a dark male?

no. 5 (a male, 3 July 2015) : is this the lighter (more usual?) colouring for a male?

 

[P.Sunesen]

Continuing with my summer studies ~

nos. 1,2,3 (seen mid-afternoon, 10 August) : is this a female?

no. 4 (identified by Tom, 26 July) : would you call this a dark male?

no. 5 (a male, 3 July 2015) : is this the lighter (more usual?) colouring for a male?

No I wouldn't.

A truly dark male* is very dark sooty brown all over except for a greyish cast on the head.
The bird depicted here is actually quite a pale one (notice the white underside), it's simply the fact the the photo is taken against the sunlight that causes the upperside to appear very dark.

Otherwise I agree with you.

Peter

*http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures/birds_user_uploads/50242_UU_42367_20120910_0252.jpg

 

[Kinthissa]

That is very good to know, Peter, thank you.

If I may ask a fourth question : am I seeing a moulting female here, with new feathers growing in?

 

[tconzemi]

That is very good to know, Peter, thank you.

If I may ask a fourth question : am I seeing a moulting female here, with new feathers growing in?

Yes, inner 2 primaries growing (P1 and P2) as well as some tail moult going on.

 

[Kinthissa]

Thank you! I'm hoping to understand a little more this season.

 

[Kinthissa]

Feasting my eyes on the truly dark male of Peter's (see link above), am I seeing in the right wing new outer primaries starting to grow, well before the existing ones drop off?

 

[tconzemi]

Feasting my eyes on the truly dark male of Peter's (see link above), am I seeing in the right wing new outer primaries starting to grow, well before the existing ones drop off?

No, that would be impossible.
HBs start moulting in summer during breeding and replace 2 or 3 inner primaries, than the moult is suspended during migration and resumed and finished in wintering area. A new feather can only grow when the old one is shed
In the dark male the outer primaries are the newest one and look fresher as moulting always starts at P1 in raptors (but not in falcons) , the inner primary is replaced first than second and so on up to P10 the outer primary replaced in spring just before homebond migration. Also these primaries in the dark male are a bit bend due to flight action and you do not see the tips.