Unusual raptor (1 Viewer)

[condor1992]

I've been looking through my photos to do a woodpecker themed post (because of the ivory-billed woodpecker news), but then noticed 3 photos of a strange raptor I was always curious about. I always thought it a steppe buzzard, but was confused by the very, very, very feathered legs (resembling Aquila eagle 'trousers', the long neck, large size, and eagle-like silhouette. Is that a lesser spotted eagle on the photos? It looks way too 'eagle-like'. Comes from an area where both are known to occur

 

[Bewick]

Wait you want to do a ivory woodpecker themed post while living in Eurasia? Also is this in Spain? Where is this because I didn’t think Spain had any lesser spotted eagle?

Edit- where is this taken?

 

[jurek]

It looks like a normal common buzzard. Perhaps in hot heather, which makes it look very slim and trousers stand out.

From lesser spotted eagle by e.g. wing formula, uniform upperwing without paler wing coverts and white patch on the base of primaries etc etc.

best,

 

[condor1992]

It was taken in Russia and sub-zero temperatures

 

[Butty]

Could you give the actual location and the date, please? Thanks.

 

[condor1992]

April 2019 near Moscow

 

[Andy Adcock]

Buzzards and Goshawks are pretty much the only raptors that regularly brave Russian winters, at least in St Petersburg.

 

[Butty]

...and rough-legs (this isn't one).

 

[Andy Adcock]

...and rough-legs (this isn't one).

Rough-legs are a passage migrant, at least in the North.

 

[Butty]

(Old) Svensson maps rough-leg wintering north to about Moscow, and common/steppe buzzard not wintering in Russia at all. I'm sure there are far better sources - but . . .