ML646786898

Détails de l'observation

Images attached here. It came flying from west, scarring all the Mongolian STLs, and sat on a Ficus tree. Saw it through the binocs, thought of it as Shikra, however – just to be sure – walked up to the tree and took some images. It was there for a few minutes and later flew in east direction. Dark iris (brownish in colour) was the first hint! Smaller size, color of the eye, and overall feeling – nothing was similar to any known, local accipiter species. Upon asking the experts – it was confirmed as Levant Sparrowhawk. Thank you, Nirav Bhatt and Ashwin Viswanathan, for confirming the id. In Nirav’s words –‘ We only have to eliminate Shikra and Besra. Besra is eliminated by not so long middle toe, rounded tail and overall plumage. Shikra is eliminated by large yellow cere including yellow at base of lower mandible, dark eyes and in flight typical levant wing formula with p10 very small and only 4 outer primaries’.