Saker Falcon? Iran (1 Viewer)

[ehsan]

I'm posting this on behalf of a friend.
It was recorded on August 7 in the north-west of Iran.

It would be great to have your opinion on this falcon. Is it a 2cy bird?

Thank you in advance

 

[KenM]

Am no expert, but it looks very much like a Saker Falcon ehsan, the detached moustachial does support imo, as to ageing am unsure, perhaps a sub-adult might be a consideration?

Cheers

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Typical Saker IMO, nice pics.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

. Is it a 2cy bird?

If the feet are bluish here rather than yellow which they appear to be on my screen, that would make it a 1cy.

 

[wolfbirder]

I am no real expert only having seen them in Hungary, but it certainly looks like ajuvenile to me with atypical heavy breast streaking. Not sure how this develops in 2CY birds.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

I am no real expert only having seen them in Hungary, but it certainly looks like ajuvenile to me with atypical heavy breast streaking. Not sure how this develops in 2CY birds.

I was just coming back to have another look at this having checked in my available literature. The bluish foot colour (and cere) apparently can be retained for a year maybe more so perhaps not a reliable aging criteria. It can be difficult to age these birds as the OP indicated. In the last image #5 - the outer primary looks juvenile (pointed and brown) while the adjacent ones look fresh and more rounded - I don’t know enough about Sakers/moult/ to really know this significance but in other falcons I think at this time of year, it might indicate a 2cy.