Brown Falcon or Nankeen Kestrel? Non yellow feet says no Kestrel but looks so much like one. Am away from home at the moment so web access, is limited but dying to know about this one .
You're right Rick, it's a Brown Falcon. The reason it looks odd is because it is an old bird, and they get lighter as they get older (I think there are also pale morph Brown Falcons too?). Plus it's fat.
Lovely photo though, you must have been really chuffed to get that close. What was the bird after on the ground?
What is not being discussed is the primary difference between the Nankeen Kestrel and Brown Falcon :
Nankeen Kestrel, yellow feet and cere
Brown Falcon, grey in both
Also, Brown Falcons have the distinctive double tear drop marking in front and behind the eye, in this specimen the rear mark is rather light and they are a significantly LARGER bird than the kestrels.
You're right Rick, it's a Brown Falcon. The reason it looks odd is because it is an old bird, and they get lighter as they get older (I think there are also pale morph Brown Falcons too?). Plus it's fat.
Lovely photo though, you must have been really chuffed to get that close. What was the bird after on the ground?
I agree with Lachlan, Brown Falcon and great pic
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Thanks Lachlan, is a nice story to go with the photo. Have some more but need some time to edit and post. Still on a high from the close encounter
Absolutely and utterly a BF. Lorne
Wow! Great shot and definately a brown Falcon, as lachlan was saying it appears to be a light morph Brown Falcon.
What is not being discussed is the primary difference between the Nankeen Kestrel and Brown Falcon :
Nankeen Kestrel, yellow feet and cere
Brown Falcon, grey in both
Also, Brown Falcons have the distinctive double tear drop marking in front and behind the eye, in this specimen the rear mark is rather light and they are a significantly LARGER bird than the kestrels.
Thanks for that Canonguy.
Learning bit by bit. The lack of yellow feet had me thinking BF but I wasn't sure about the size as all the BFs I had seen seemed much larger.