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.
for the fag ends of the aristocracy.
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.