Hi Neil and others,
I agree with Bill, that this is a Levant Sparrowhawk, as is shown by its diagnostic wing-formula, but I have to disagree on its sex and age. The bird in the image is a young bird from the previous breeding season, not an adult male. Adult males show no barring to the wing-feathers, or the barring is just faint. Adult females show stronger barring than adult males, but only juveniles show the complete and bold barring as this bird. Also the breast pattern suggests a juvenile, as it appears rather blotchy and uneven, whereas adults in an image like this would hardly show any pattern at all, particularly adult males would only show a pinkish blush.
I could not find a date for the image, which is always of importance when trying to solve cases like this.
regards,
Dick
21.4.2011 20:11, Neil and Liz Baker kirjoitti:
this just in
comments please.
Neil
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----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Itai Shanni <itaisha1@yahoo.com>
To: Liz & Neil Baker <tzbirdatlas@yahoo.co.uk>; gitau david <italmdao@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, 21 April, 2011 14:26:23
Subject: Levant Sparrowhawk in Makomazi?!
Hi Neil,
a good friend from Kenya; David Gitau who is also a very good bird ringer and bird guide, has sent me this photo he took in Makomazi for identification.
to me, this looks like a good fit to female Levant Sparrowhawk (LSH).
David called it a Kestrel originally, so the shape of the wing must have been pointed than the usual. the dark fingers is a good indication for both LSH and Shikra, though in female types i don't remember Shikra to have this much dark.
i know that there is nothing to compare it too here, but to me it looks too big for a Shikra.
unfortunately the photo is not very clear, but from what can be seen, it looks like a dark eyed bird, which is a diagnostic feature of LSH rather than a Shikra which in all ages should have a paler eye (from Red to Orange).
any thoughts?
Itai
I'd rather go birding...
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