Species ID? (1 Viewer)

[Muratfaik]

I took this photo on May 2024, Van Turkey. Opinions on the species ID please. Thanks.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Marsh harrier, nice shots. I've seen a few images of birds with plumage anomalies recently.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

It is a (Western) marsh harrier, I think - but an unusual looking one ...

( wondering if a Western x Eastern could look like that?)

 

[Muratfaik]

I didn’t find any Marsh harrier illustration, that shows streaked seconderies (underwing). Also upperwing white pathches confuses me. As far as I know, there is no harrier notches tail tip and rounded tail corners. Can this be an east asian variant?

 

[TheBlackGrouse]

I didn’t find any Marsh harrier illustration, that shows streaked seconderies (underwing). Also upperwing white pathches confuses me. As far as I know, there is no harrier notches tail tip and rounded tail corners. Can this be an east asian variant?

Forsman mentions that birds like this, with characteristics of Eastern Marsh Harriers (barred remiges) sometimes are found between normal looking Marsh Harriers. According to Forsman, these birds might be hybrids or some old genes are 'active'. There are newer versions of Forsman, possibly there is new information about this too.