Another rapter ID please

[Jacqueline Burrell]

The position of the raptor in the first pic is too confusing and its too far away in the second shot.

See in Taba on the Gulf of Aqaba in October.

Jacqueline:puzzled:

[Nathan Kipling]

I'm not sure if it's the same species as the bird on the golf course some people thought was one but to me this does look very much like a steppe buzzard.

:smile:

[Olvedi Szilard]

To me it looks like it could be a young long legged buzzard.

Olvedi Szilard

[Colin Key]

"Buteo" YES, species NO (at least on the basis of these photos)! :ohdear:

Colin

[Colin Key]

But, "Long-legged" is very enticing.

Colin

[forktail]

looks like a Long-legged

the long unfeathered tarsii and the general rufous colour but with a pale head, are a reasonable starter, the underwing primaries are very white at their base etc. A juvenile intermediate type - the pale upperbreast contrasts sharply with the browner lower belly and thighs. Can't see any barring or 'drop' marks as on Steppe either, which would also show a more overall rufousness incl. the head and upper breast?

F.

[Fernando Arce]

I think rufinus is a the good choice.
Any way I havemuch more experience on rufinus than on vulpinus (very few birds) but any way is limited too.
I´m sure Andrea will give us the correct answer
Regards
Fernando

[macrourus]

Durely really like a Long-legged but I do not think is all right for a nominate rufinus...

it looks to delicate and slender, with head too small and bill not high and strong enough, as well as legs not long and strong enough. Also tail, in nominate juv. would usaully show most of the time (if not always) a colder cast, a more silvery tone rather than warm tone such as in this bird.

Having said this it could well be a juv. cirtensis and I've seen cirtensis up to Sinai, Lebanon, Lybia and S Israel...

However, from thsoe pictures I can't see the definitive characters making the identifcation 100% safe and distinguish a juv. cirtensis from a juv. vulpinus in similar plumage its really an hard job, evn with close up and really goods photos (easier in the field using structure, flyght syle, hovering style, jiiz and felling indeed).

The bird compared to a juv. vulpinus seems indeed to show a quite high and powerful bill, long tarsi with strong and massive fingers (the feet), unmarked and rufous thigh-feathers ("throusers") contrasing strikingly with paler belly, upper vent, neack and head this being more pro rufinus feature, long gape line more pro rufinus, quite a long tail (but shorter than on nominate rufinus), long neck, Aquiline like face expression and head shape etc.

So, I would say Long-legged, most probably cirtensis, but leave the ID open and not definitive...

Cheers

Andrea
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TRISHA_HOTTIE (http://camslivesexy.com/cam/TRISHA_HOTTIE)