request help with identification Sparrowhawk sp. in Sharm, Egypt, December 2023 (1 Viewer)

[Earnest lad]

Please may I request advice.
I apologize for asking if it seems obvious, but against all odds, I am hoping for a Levant Sparrowhawk here. I have no experience with that species previously. I see the tail barring according to the field guide might suit Eurasian. However I can see what appears to besome dark wing tips that might indicate the Levant sort. However, the time of the year might not be right for this passage migrant.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[James Lowther]

The best approach if you are hoping to convince the forum and yourself that you might have seen the more interesting of a pair of accipiter species is to post back-of-camera shots of blurry, distant originals.

Unfortunately your excellent shots leave no doubt that the bird in question is a Eurasian sparrowhawk

Cheers
James

 

[THE_FERN]

74 shows an orange cheek. Levant should have grey

 

[THE_FERN]

The best approach if you are hoping to convince the forum

Surely not the forum...

 

[Earnest lad]

The best approach if you are hoping to convince the forum and yourself that you might have seen the more interesting of a pair of accipiter species is to post back-of-camera shots of blurry, distant originals.

Unfortunately your excellent shots leave no doubt that the bird in question is a Eurasian sparrowhawk

Cheers
James

Thank you so much ! LOL

 

[Earnest lad]

74 shows an orange cheek. Levant should have grey

Thank you for highlighting this detail. I will remember that for the future

 

[01101001]

I think they also differ in the number of fingers visible:

Levant Sparrowhawk - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

6 (or maybe 5?) are visible in your pictures above

EDIT: based on the info below, I think there are 6 fingers (counting fingers may be problematic, at least for me)

Raptor, Doğubeyazıt Turkey

The ironic thing here is you proved that this bird in question is not a Golden Eagle. Unclear. Proved how? Which bird? - the linked bird, or the OP's bird? That entire bird is wrong for GE. You would help your case, and help other people to understand the issues, if you avoided such sweeping...

www.birdforum.net

 

[James Lowther]

Other visible pro Eurasian ID details include the yellow iris and lack of gular (throat) stripe
Cheers
James

 

[Earnest lad]

I think they also differ in the number of fingers visible:

Levant Sparrowhawk - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

6 (or maybe 5?) are visible in your pictures above

EDIT: based on the info below, I think there are 6 fingers (counting fingers may be problematic, at least for me)

Raptor, Doğubeyazıt Turkey

The ironic thing here is you proved that this bird in question is not a Golden Eagle. Unclear. Proved how? Which bird? - the linked bird, or the OP's bird? That entire bird is wrong for GE. You would help your case, and help other people to understand the issues, if you avoided such sweeping...

www.birdforum.net

I will remember that point thank you. The article I read stated the LS has "more pointed wings" too.

 

[KenM]

The best approach if you are hoping to convince the forum and yourself that you might have seen the more interesting of a pair of accipiter species is to post back-of-camera shots of blurry, distant originals.

Yes, I too, prefer more challenging images, much more satisfying than “in ye’r face ones”.

I suppose if you lack confidence, it’s best
to leave well alone, otherwise you might get taken to task with your ignorance exposed to all and sunder.

Cheers

 

[Earnest lad]

Other visible pro Eurasian ID details include the yellow iris and lack of gular (throat) stripe
Cheers
James

Thank you for highlighting these features (or lack of)

 

[Earnest lad]

James Lowther said:
I suppose if you lack confidence, it’s best
to leave well alone, otherwise you might get taken to task with your ignorance exposed to all and sunder.

Good point to be honest. Thank you :

 

[James Lowther]

Yes, I too, prefer more challenging images, much more satisfying than “in ye’r face ones”.

I suppose if you lack confidence, it’s best
to leave well alone, otherwise you might get taken to task with your ignorance exposed to all and sunder.

Cheers

Happy new year Ken.
Putting aside the fact “all and sunder” is to idioms as “L.argenteus” is to scientific nomenclature I agree with the general principle of not exposing my ignorance by picking arguments where I am vastly outgunned by people with a better grasp of the topic at hand.
Cheers,
James