Help ID this Russian Raptor
Reader Olga has sent me a link to a Russian site with an unknown raptor. Does anyone have any idea? I'm just not so up to speed on my old world birds of prey and need all the help I can get!
posted by birdchick at 8:54 PM
7 Comments:
I think its a juvenile Goshawk.
I'm going with imm. Buzzard (Buteo buteo). It's got those little bitty feet like a rough-leg, but none of its field marks. The small bill, small feet, long wings and bulky body kind of point in the rough-leg direction, but Buteo buteo better fits the plumage.
I thought so at first too - Buzzard. They're the most common around here (have two families of them near here). Buzzards are broader (though this could be a juvenile) and aren't as "stripey".
I agree that this looks buteo-like and has the tiny feet of a rough-leg. I have Raptors of the World, but I just can't find it. The hackles are up so that makes it tough to id by shape.
I noticed it has the verticle stripes that juvenile raptors in North America have--is that the same in Europe and Asia too?
When my chicks hatch out, the little ones have black bead like eyes until they are almost pullets. It is then that their eyes get colour and a defined pupil. I assume that this is the case for most birds?
As Buzzards are SO common, I have difficulty believing that they would have trouble identifying one of those, even if its a juvenile.
Then there is the tricky matter of this eye stripe. . . . .
Rough-legged Buzzard perhaps?
Gotta love it, an all-girl ID forum. When has that ever happened? If the birder boys and raptor bums are out there, they're keeping mum. Tee hee. I love how we're all so "maybe" and "could be..."
Hi Birdchick,
Clearly you need a man to help you out with this one! (just joking).
The Russian raptor is actually a juvenile Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) - its in a completely different family to the Buteo buzzards.
Note the specially adapted feathers on the forehead and face, and the very small feet (too small to catch prey of any size).
These adaptions are because it feeds on .... yes, you've guessed it ... honey! And wasp larvae etc.
Greetings from England, UK.
FalconBirder
Raptor Ecologist
falconservation@yahoo.com
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