Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Rotarran on August 16, 2015, 01:44:24 PM

Title: Birds in Western Europe
Post by: Rotarran on August 16, 2015, 01:44:24 PM

I went on a trip to France and Germany and saw a couple of birds that I'm a bit confused by.

First one is this water bird that resembles some sort of Coot or Rail.  I saw this in the river Ill in Strasbourg France...and some Eurasian Coots were indeed nearby.  
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/600/20443071909_50af8af28b.jpg)

This bird I saw soaring over the Kaiserstuhl near Freiburg Germany.  My guide and I saw plenty of Common Buzzards flying above us but this one seemed a bit different.  Just looking to confirm.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5713/20441778070_c4a40e74a0.jpg)

Thank you

Title: Re: Birds in Western Europe
Post by: thouc on August 16, 2015, 07:40:46 PM

1. Juvenile Common Moorhen
2. I believe it's a Common Buzzard, they can be pretty variable.

Title: Re: Birds in Western Europe
Post by: Rotarran on August 16, 2015, 10:49:25 PM

Thanks Thouc.  I didn't think of the Moorhen.  And yeah the Common Buzzard is kinda like the European Red-tailed Hawk...very common and can be quite variable.  But is there some characteristic to look for in the CB like the RTH belt?

Title: Re: Birds in Western Europe
Post by: thouc on August 18, 2015, 10:19:22 AM

I'm not sure if there's one sure identifying mark.

Here's an article with photo examples of varying Common Buzzards: http://www.devonbirds.org/birdwatching/articles/common_buzzard