Can You Identify this Bird?
Max2016
Posts: 24
I was looking out into the field behind my garden this morning and noticed a particularly large bird. It had brown feathers on its body with white patches. It is about the size of two magpies (that's the best and most accurate measurement I can make, sorry). Can anyone help me to identify it please?
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My best semi-educated guess from that photo would be a Red Kite.
Whereabouts are you?
Have a look here - there are some pics similar to yours here http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/red-kites-commute-reading-food-8981827
Did you happen to notice the shape of it's tail - the failsafe ID for Red Kites is its distinctive forked-wedge shaped tail. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/redkite/index.aspx
Great pic Max.
Looks like a male sparrowhawk to me. Well done to get the shot!
We get a lot of red kites around here (I'm in Hertfordshire) and I'm pretty sure that it didn't have a forked tail.
Take a look at pictures of male kestrels Max.
Grey head, brown speckled body, wing feathers turning black towards tips..
its a red kite, way too big for a kestrel, wrong colours for a sparrowhawk
http://shropshirebirder.co.uk/gallery/Red%20Kite%20flight%20Gigrin%2017%201%2010%20%20IMG_7935_filtered.jpg
this is good site to have a look at a red kite
OP seemed sure it wasn't a red kite, looking at this one I think you are right treehugger80
As I said, from the OP's photo, I'm pretty sure it's a red kite - doesn't look like a sparrowhawk to me.
I think it is too big for a Kestrel or Sparrowhawk, so could well be a Red Kite.
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I'm sure your are right now Dove, looking at the way they hold their wings in flight, it's very distinctive and not at all like a sparrowhawk or kestrel, but the same in the picture I posted and OP's picture.