Red-Footed Falcon ? (1 Viewer)

[Michał Jaro]

Is it possible to recognize from such photos whether it is a Red-footed falcon or maybe a kestrel ? - help to decide .

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Michal,
overall colouration, colouration pattern and jizz looks good for a female Red-Footed Falcon. The right orange body, white contrasting cheeks, the right grey colour to upperparts. If the choice is between Kestrel, RFF, Merlin, Hobby and Peregrine, I think this can be identified as a RFF with a high degree of certainty. Adding a shape, that looks good for RFF: compact, short tailed with long, but still broad wings.
Caveat: I would like to learn, if a 1cy RFF with the warmest underparts within variation can be excluded here. Because I think, appearant lack of streaked breast/belly can be result of low resolution (as allways no offense). But then orangey underwing-coverts must be explained by warm light condtions, which I think wouldnt produce such "perfect" female type orange underwing-coverts.
If your bird isnt a RFF, than light conditions and artefacts would produce a pitfall picture here, that seems hardly believable to me.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

A RFF in Poland (in November too?!) would be a nice record.

What date and where did you photograph this Michal?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

From my experience and literature, RFF are at least regular in Poland (and NE-Germany). They even can occur in small (rare large) flocks in "influx years". I have seen some during migration in NE-Germany.
Assuming, this wasnt taken recently? A RFF in late november outside normal migration period in Poland would be a good record, I think?

 

[Deb Burhinus]

A RFF in late november outside normal migration period in Poland would be a good record, I think?

Yes, regular and less scarce than in the UK - I remember seeing them much more regularly 20 years ago in the UK but they have very much declined as a species everywhere. I suppose a late breeder could account for aNovember record in Eastern Europe/Poland ? but, it would be a good record nonetheless.

 

[Nutcracker]

Exif date on the pics 20 November

I'm in the Common Kestrel camp

 

[Michał Jaro]

Sorry - I am forgetting the time information again. I saw the bird in the spring - in April.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Sorry - I am forgetting the time information again. I saw the bird in the spring - in April.

That makes more sense! November did seem rather late! Still good to see though any time of the year 👍

 

[Michał Jaro]

Nutcracker - that is the date of the copy. Here is the original date and size

 

[Nutcracker]

Nutcracker - that is the date of the copy. Here is the original date and size

OK thanks! Yep, happy with RFF now

 

[lou salomon]

structure, pale chin and wing "pattern" looks much better for red-foot than for kestrel.

 

[Michał Jaro]

Thank you all for your explanations and opinions. With such unanimity, I accept the identification - red-footed falcon ! (which I see at most
once or twice a year)

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Thank you all for your explanations and opinions. With such unanimity, I accept the identification - red-footed falcon ! (which I see at most
once or twice a year)

Like I said, a good record - I think you should be pleased with that 👍