Bird of Prey - Tenerife (north west) - 21st March 16 (1 Viewer)

[Andy Hartley]

Hi,

Can anyone please help identify this bird of prey seen on Tenerife mid March.

Looked quite big but distant so can't be sure.

Sorry for poor pics.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Andy Adcock]

Maybe Short-toed Eagle?

Andy

 

[Ighalo is amazing]

Agree with STE

 

[Andy Hartley]

Maybe Short-toed Eagle?

Andy

Thanks Andy,

I was thinking it may be a rough legged buzzard, short-toed another possibility.

Andy

 

[MTem]

I'm not sure I could say STE for sure from these images, but if you could lighten the second image (that shows some of the underside) then I think that would perhaps say one way or the other.

Mick

 

[Andy Hartley]

I'm not sure I could say STE for sure from these images, but if you could lighten the second image (that shows some of the underside) then I think that would perhaps say one way or the other.

Mick

Hi Mick,

I've increased the brightness, but poor photo as attached.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[MTem]

Well that confuses things - for me at least!
The dark head and bib with a pale rest of the body would point to STE, but I think I can see dark carpal patches on both wings - which STE don't have.
RLB can have both features (see plate 384 in Forsman, Raptors of Europe and the ME for example), but it would be WAY out of range in Tenerife I think. I'm not familiar with Long-legged which I think would be more likely there, and I cannot find any similar photos online or in Forsman's books (although I've not looked far as dinner beckons!).

Unless someone else contributes I think you'll have to go with 'probable STE', and assume those carpal patches are shadows/photographic effects.

Mick

 

[Andy Adcock]

Must admit that the carpal patches did concern me too, Common Buzzard might be the only probable option?

Andy

 

[Andy Hartley]

Well that confuses things - for me at least!
The dark head and bib with a pale rest of the body would point to STE, but I think I can see dark carpal patches on both wings - which STE don't have.
RLB can have both features (see plate 384 in Forsman, Raptors of Europe and the ME for example), but it would be WAY out of range in Tenerife I think. I'm not familiar with Long-legged which I think would be more likely there, and I cannot find any similar photos online or in Forsman's books (although I've not looked far as dinner beckons!).

Unless someone else contributes I think you'll have to go with 'probable STE', and assume those carpal patches are shadows/photographic effects.

Mick

Hi Mick,

Yes, it's not clear. I don't think the dark carpal's are photo shadows / effects, I've increased brightness on pic d and it also shows them.

The bird was hovering quite a lot as well not sure if STE hovers?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[MTem]

Well I think all I would say is that it is not a STE then. Most likely a buteo, but not sure you can say which one from these photos. Certainly CB will hover as will RLB, and I think some other buteos also.
Mick

 

[P.Sunesen]

Well, at first I was pretty sure of Short-toed Eagle (lenght of wings, short, square cut tail), but the lightened pic seemingly show yellow feet and dark flanks, indicating a Buteo.

Peter

 

[Andy Adcock]

Just to say that STE do hover......

A

 

[Nutcracker]

But do they ever reach Tenerife? Long ocean crossing for a large raptor

 

[KGS]

Common Buzzard. Note obvious carpal markings e.g.

 

[dantheman]

Presume all the North American species can be ruled out? ...

Otherwise, yes, it would have to be Common Buzzard.

 

[Andy Hartley]

Many thanks, everyone, it's looking like Common Buzzard

Andy

 

[apbarr]

Common Buzzard was the only largish raptor I saw in the north of Tenerife in February.

 

[Andy Hartley]

Thank you everyone.

Looks like we have narrowed down to Comon Buzzard

I did make a bit of a mistake in the title when I said it was seen in the north west of Tenerife, it was actually in the north east (near San Juan Perales).

Thanks again,

Andy