Raptors - Samarkand, Uzbekistan (3 Viewers)

[rylirk]

A few raptors from Samarkand, Uzbekistan:

1 & 2. Lesser Kestrel?
3. Shikra?
4 & 5. Booted Eagle perhaps? Struggled to find a good match for this one.
6. Another booted eagle?
7. Another booted eagle?
8. Buzzard sp., really not sure which one. Common (Steppe) Buzzard?

 

[Butty]

1. Looks like female-type kestrel sp.
2. Looks like male regular kestrel.
3. Yes, shikra.
4-5. Booted eagle - everything is there.
6. Consistent with booted eagle.
7. Booted eagle - eg 'headlights', upperwing-pattern.
8. Common buzzard or long-legged buzzard 🤷🏻 Looks a bit long-winged, so... maybe... that's caused by the angle of view, hahaha.

 

[tconzemi]

1. Looks like female-type kestrel sp.
2. Looks like male regular kestrel.
3. Yes, shikra.
4-5. Booted eagle - everything is there.
6. Consistent with booted eagle.
7. Booted eagle - eg 'headlights', upperwing-pattern.
8. Common buzzard or long-legged buzzard 🤷🏻 Looks a bit long-winged, so... maybe... that's caused by the angle of view, hahaha.

Agree with Butty
An educated guess might be:
1. Common Kestrel (face pattern)
2. Agreed, male Common
3. Shikra
4-7 Booted
8. Common

 

[rylirk]

I have some more photos of these if they would help. In particular I have a video of the bird in photo #6 that looks like it is lacking the Booted Eagle 'headlights'? Apologies for the quality, the conditions were not great:

I also have one more photo of 8. if that would be helpful; its a very poor photo but I think it gives a better impression of the overall shape.

 

[Southern Viking]

6 is a Black Kite

 

[rylirk]

Is it not an Eagle sp. ? Shape doesn't look right for a kite to my (not well-trained in Asian raptors) eyes.

 

[Butty]

6 is a Black Kite

I suspect not. The tail-shape (square-cornered and flat-ended when the tail is only slightly spread) is right for booted eagle but not for black kite. In my opinion.

 

[tconzemi]

I agree with Black Kite due to quite long tail with very sharp corners and much reduced pattern on upperwings
And Buzzard is Common imo

 

[smiths]

Photo #1 shows a female Lesser Kestrel, in my opinion: long P10, plain head lacking dark eyestripe, white 'flash' at base of outer primaries (contrasting strongly against the dark primary coverts).

Photo #2 could be either kestrel species...

Bird #6 gives me mainly the impression of a dark phase Booted Eagle, not Black Kite. Here is a still from the video, showing rather strong bill, white uppertail coverts, and white tips to inner primaries and secondaries:



Agree with Common Buzzard (Steppe) for #8.

 

[lou salomon]

agree on Booted Eagle for 6, pale rump and headlights are there.