ID Please !

Discussion

6 replies

Posted by Bob Cox on August 13, 2009 at 5:30 PM

Waiting for the marsh harriers this afternoon and this turned up , any thought please.600+1.4 a long way away !.

Bob.

Posted by Liam Pauling on August 13, 2009 at 5:43 PM

Looks like a Ringtail Hen Harrier to me, might be a juvenile as it looks a bit different to the females I have seen.

Posted by marek szczepanek on August 13, 2009 at 5:55 PM

beautiful Hen Harrier
Marek

Posted by Bob Cox on August 13, 2009 at 7:49 PM

Thanks Liam and dziekuje Marek.

Bob.

Posted by Ian Butler on August 14, 2009 at 6:09 AM

Hi Bob

I disagree with Hen Harrier. Its a juvenile Montagues Harrier... note the four primaries rather than the 5 primaries that Hen Harrier shows. The only confusion with Monty's with four primaries is the four primaries of Pallid Harrier. The difference between these is that the inner primaries of the monty's is dark tipped (as shown in your bird) and Pallid would be a lot paler tipped. Hope this helps.

Cheers

Ian

Posted by Lewis Thomson on August 14, 2009 at 6:19 AM

I would go with Montagues too Bob, worth sending to the county bird recorder, they'll let you know for certain.

Cheers,

Lewis.

Posted by Bob Cox on August 14, 2009 at 12:56 PM

Thanks for all your replies, I contacted the RSPB they believe it is a juvenile male Montague’s, possibly from Holland or Denmark as it has a blue or green ring on its left leg, Thanks again.

Bob.