Two (Lesser) Kestrels Pyrenees - last night and today (1 Viewer)

[rosbifs]

Two photos that I now think are Lesser Kestrels - they are everywhere at the moment - 17 Bagneres, 5 Ger and apparently 18 where these pictures were taken tonight!

One I'm mainly focussing on the nail being white and the other no moustache. There must be some structural hints as well...

 

[tconzemi]

No photos rosbifs

 

[rosbifs]

No photos rosbifs

I'm trying and crashing....

 

[rosbifs]

Finally

 

[THE_FERN]

Yes lesser, certainly the second with its steel blue cap with uniform cheek. The first bird is by its very long wings if nothing else

 

[tconzemi]

Structural hints (as The_Fern already mentioned) very long wings almost reaching tailtip

 

[Ratal]

Belter. Deffo lesser

 

[dragnil]

Argeles fields? Glue them to the pylons until next week )

 

[rosbifs]

The male was near your green woodpecker tree on the back road...

 

[smiths]

The male (second photo) obviously cannot be a Lesser Kestrel since it shows black spots on the mantle and scapulars...

 

[Butty]

I agree that the bird in pic 2 can't definitely be seen to lack a black moustache given the shade, lighting etc. But could it be a 1-year-old male lesser kestrel, with adult head and still with juvenile upper body and brown rather than grey greater coverts?

 

[smiths]

But could it be a 1-year-old male lesser kestrel, with adult head and still with juvenile upper body and brown rather than grey greater coverts?

1-year-old yes, juvenile upperparts no, for several reasons:

a) the bird is growing new tail feathers, and these already show a blue-grey colour. Mantle/scapulars are replaced before tail feathers in kestrels. Pretty sure that the primaries are being moulted too.
b) the bird is moulting its wing coverts; many of these feathers (and some tertials) are missing. Mantle/scapulars are replaced before the wing coverts and tertials.
c) Lesser Kestrels replace their juvenile body feathers (including mantle and scapulars) during their first winter. By April - May of the 2nd calendar year, they therefore already lack spotting on the upperparts.
d) A bird with retained juvenile scapulars in August of the 2nd cal year makes no sense, particularly not when it is replacing primaries and tail feathers (i.e. is going through the complete moult).
e) A juvenile pattern on the upperparts consists of blackish bars, not scattered, bold black spots as in this bird.

Check photographs of (2CY+) male Lesser Kestrels from August on eBird or Observado and you will find none with spotted upperparts.

 

[Butty]

I'm definitely glad I asked the right person 👍🏻