Kestrel (common or lesser) Italy Adamello (Alps) mountains August 6th 2021 (1 Viewer)

[Frank-birding]

Some days ago while hiking through the Adamello massif (Northern Italy, Alps, near Dolomites, at an altitude of approximately 1900m) I saw this very distant Kestrel. It was soaring many hundreds of metres above the valley floor along a steep cliff face.

When looking through my binos I thought a (male) Common Kestrel. I managed a few shots across this huge mountain valley. However, now that I'm reviewing these tiny images, the rounded wing tips, the broad wings, the rufous body colour and the bulky body somehow strike me. Could this have been a Lesser Kestrel instead? Even though it doesn't really seem in its range. (Apologies for the images, unfortunately it's probably not possible to ID this bird due to these small images.)

(Edits: I added some more images. The last one is an 200% upscaled version for easier viewing.)

Bye, Frank

 

[ApusApus]

In the last photo P10 & P7 look roughly the same length to my eyes which would make this a Common Kestrel!


Shane

 

[Frank-birding]

Thank you Shane,
Good to have the confirmation that I saw a Common Kestrel (and didn't "miss" a Lesser).
Bye, Frank

 

[Vyomkesh]

In the last photo P10 & P7 look roughly the same length to my eyes which would make this a Common Kestrel!


Shane

Any more pointers (easier to see in field)?

 

[njlarsen]

Check out our opus page

Lesser Kestrel - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

Niels

 

[Vyomkesh]

Thanks