Light coloured Buzzard

[jmack]

I was looking through the photos I took on the Isle of Mull in October and came across these photos. The bird was very eye-catching because it was so light-coloured but after looking at books I assumed it was a Buzzard in its light phase. Could anyone confirm this is the case and how common this colouring is. The photos have been cropped heavily but no other editing has been done.
Cheers,
Jim

[FUDGEY]

I have posted good pics of a buzzard that's almost pure White that is resident in SW Scotland. I can't put them on now as I'm on my phone but they should still be in my Gallery. Lovely bird.

[Picidae]

Yes, it's a Common Buzzard.

(not sure what you meant by ''in it's pale phase'' - 'phase' generally means the colour form of a particular individual bird eg. Common Buzzard rather than a colour 'phase' it's going through - if you see what I mean! It's generally not a phrase related to age/sex change in plumage. (Compared to 'morph' which are distinct and identifiable variants of particular species - which don't include buteo buteo). Plumage in Common Buzzard is highly variable and can range from very pale to very dark and anything in between!)

[bodshi]

That's a beautiful bird isn't it - wish I could take photos like that. When we were near Dumfries in October I saw a Buzzard sitting on a telegraph pole that I thought was an odd-looking crow until I got closer, its plumage was so dark. I was driving at the time and swerved into the side of the road to park and get a better look - lucky there was no-one following me!

[FUDGEY]

[big bill]

Hello Jim its a common Buzzard - Buteo buteo we get quite a lot up here on the fence posts at the side of the road and you can always see at least one or two with light colourings and at other times they all look the same

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

'Why do I have to be the odd one out?


Tracey