Big Bird Of Prey ID Please!

Owyn Bowen · #1 (**permalink**) 21-05-2010, 06:47 PM

Hi.

Have just joined the forum because I was hoping for some of your expert advice!
Theses photos was taken at the end of April in a hilly area of the UK. (Don't want to say exactly where yet as I don't want to prejudice people's opinions...)

Its a BIG bird of prey - this was taken with a long zoom lens. It really caught our eye with its size, it was far bigger than the buzzards we are used to seeing locally, more comparable in size to that of a Red Kite (which it clearly isn't.) If not bigger.

Any ideas? We're really curious as to what we saw.

Thanks everyone!

ChrisJB · #2 (**permalink**) 21-05-2010, 06:48 PM

It's not a bird of prey it's a raven.

Regards, Chris

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 21-05-2010, 07:15 PM

Welcome Owyn to the forum. I agree with Chris- it's a Raven- a very distinctive profile.

Owyn Bowen · #4 (**permalink**) 21-05-2010, 08:21 PM

Thanks guys.

I certainly defer to your opinion.
My only query would be about the height, size and behaviour of the bird.
It was very high - and seemed much bigger than a raven-sized bird. The lens was a 250mm zoom at maximum setting.
It caught our eye because of its size, and the raptor style behaviour - soaring high rather than flapping.

If its definitely a raven then fair enough - but are there any bigger birds or raptors that share a similar profile?

Cheers,

Owyn

Jason Claxton · #5 (**permalink**) 21-05-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owyn Bowen

If its definitely a raven then fair enough - but are there any bigger birds or raptors that share a similar profile?

Hi Owyn,
Not really ,this is 100% a Raven,it is very distinctive in your picture.

Cheers Jason

Owyn Bowen · #6 (**permalink**) 21-05-2010, 09:04 PM

No worries - a raven it is!

Thanks for your help guys - I really enjoy reading this forum - will be back soon I imagine.

All the best!

Owyn

faz · #7 (**permalink**) 24-05-2010, 07:33 PM

nice pictures mate but it is a RAVEN they have a very distinctive call as well

Vixen1982 · #8 (**permalink**) 24-05-2010, 08:13 PM

Im rather shocked....I never had any idea a raven was bigger than a buzzard but after reading up indeed it is! wow! I wonder how many "birds of prey" that ive squinted at highup have actually been a Raven!? Amazing!

The Raven: Birds Amazing!