Long shot ID request - distant bird in flight, UK Middlesbrough (1 Viewer)

[dantheman]

Well ... I'm backing out of my suggestions now ;-)

A larger bird, but how large? Think we can make head and tail of it ... if not a Mallard flying left to right (lol ;-) )


Feral Pigeon.

 

[andrewslack]

Well ... I'm backing out of my suggestions now ;-)

A larger bird, but how large? Think we can make head and tail of it ... if not a Mallard flying left to right (lol ;-) )


Feral Pigeon.

There were plenty of pigeons around, and while it is amazing how many interesting birds pigeons can do impressions of, it seems odd colouring, and more raptor-like. You can't ever rule out a reverse mallard though.

 

[Stonefaction]

Odd colouring is easily explained by it being a phone camera photo taken in bright sunlight.....though I've had some odd colouring provided by my Nikon D500 and my Olympus OM-1 too, from time to time, especially on small in the frame subjects..

 

[andrewslack]

Odd colouring is easily explained by it being a phone camera photo taken in bright sunlight.....though I've had some odd colouring provided by my Nikon D500 and my Olympus OM-1 too, from time to time, especially on small in the frame subjects..

True, but this is more about the pattern on the head and proportions. I think ultimately it's probably just too tiny/low res picture to be at all sure.

 

[Southern Viking]

If you posted the photo with the head cut off, I think most would have said Feral Pigeon. Was definitely my thought, and that there are just some weird artefacts around the head area.

Then again, if artefacts can produce a head like that, then the rest isn't that reliable either!

 

[Harry Stottle]

UFO

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Andrew and all,

if its a Feral Pigeon (I think its a good guess, while I am in the unIDable camp too), then the weird, bright colours can well be real and artificial coloring. There are a few threads here about this.

 

[Richard Prior]

UFO

Just mind your language please

 

[RafaelMatias]

I can't see anything wrong for a female-type House Sparrow photo-bombing. One can even imagine it just flying from the roofs moments before. Some wild size estimations there, and crazy photo-artifacts on the post-processed images.

 

[Harry Stottle]

Just mind your language please

🛸

 

[andrewslack]

Thanks all, I think sparrowhawk with artefacts and crap image quality is probably the best bet, or "weird pigeon". Thanks

 

[Harrybongo]

Thanks all, I think sparrowhawk with artefacts and crap image quality is probably the best bet, or "weird pigeon". Thanks

..... Yep, weird headless pigeon, for me! 😂