ML63687361

Age and sex

Unknown age, Unknown sex - X

Media notes

Apparent first-year bird (juvenile or immature?).

Observation details

Soaring Buteo, seen briefly, distant to the west, mobbed by swallows. Saw pale-based tail above. Photos show very whitish underwing with dark wrist "commas", ventrally whitish tail, and gray-brown upperwing with obviously contrasting whitish primaries. Lanky, long wings and substantial head also confirm this sp. Lack of bright rufous upperwing coverts, rufous leggings, and mottling on underwing coverts points to a first-year bird. Based on phenology detailed in the Birds of North America Online account, it seems quite early for a hatch-year bird to be seen here - but perhaps, with an early hatch data (eg. early May), that could be the case? Otherwise, could it be a second-year bird, undergoing its first prebasic molt, but still appearing mostly juvenile-like?

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P900

ISO

125

Focal length

428.4 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.5

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

1690 pixels x 1307 pixels

Original file size

232.45 KB