Falcon... Hobby? Eleonora? Other? Turkey, September (1 Viewer)

[xaviertaylor]

Dear all - your thoughts please on these terrible photos... taken in Turkey in September! Initially I had this down as a Hobby but looking back at these photos I feel like I've got the ID wrong - Would appreciate some guidance!
Thank you

 

[PW23]

Head markings and shape in flight would make me think Red-footed falcon. I think you can rule out Hobby. Markings not right for Eleanora's IMO.

 

[PW23]

+ feet appear more orangey-red than yellow.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Couldn't be an Eastern Red-foot could it? Beyond my experience to be honest, but it sort of fits the search engine I have in my head for the species in the event I'm ever insanely lucky enough to come across one.

 

[MacNara]

I blew up the photos just for my own education, and I post them here just in case it helps others.

To me, from the books, it looks good for Red-footed juvenile, much better than the other suggestions. But I've never seen Eleonara and only adult Red-footed and Hobby, so this opinion is basically book-based, and not any strong claim to the ID.

 

[Ratal]

That brown crown and back tinged with grey in pic 1 looks like a Juvenile Red Footed Falcon.

 

[njlarsen]

Would juvenile plumage of a bird breeding this far north be expected at this time of the year?
Niels

 

[MacNara]

Would juvenile plumage of a bird breeding this far north be expected at this time of the year?
Niels

Hi Niels:

I thought (from looking at Birds of the World online) that this plumage would be correct for a 1cy bird, and the location - in September - just right for an early stage of the migration to southern Africa?

I would assume it's just (western) Red-footed, and not Amur (eastern Red-footed) Falcon - doesn't the pale brownish cap rather than a darker cap suggest a juvenile of the former, not the latter.

 

[njlarsen]

Sorry, pulled the trigger too early on my reply. I thought the image was recent.
Niels

 

[KC Foggin]

I'm leaning towards a Falcon.

 

[tconzemi]

Head markings and shape in flight would make me think Red-footed falcon. I think you can rule out Hobby. Markings not right for Eleanora's IMO.

Correct! And Amur would show much more contrat below (b&w instead of buff on cream), much darker upperside and more contrast on head

 

[Jonno52]

MacNara's beaten me to it, but since I'd already brightened up another of the pics in Lightroom, I'll post it anyway:

 

[xaviertaylor]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their help with this ID - looks like overwhelming consensus is Red foot