Juvenile peregrine?? Cornwall

[crisscross]

joined me for elevenses at Polpry cove Cornwall (south of Cape Cornwall) last week

Can someone suggest an age and tell me how long they stay this rather elongated shape and with straightish beak before acquiring the more normal adult shape?

[aeshna5]

It's an adult Cuckoo!

[Johnny81]

Cuckoo! Lucky to get so close!

[crisscross]

thank you both, not sure whether to crawl off in shame at such a bad attempt at ID or be pleased to have bagged another 'first time seen'

If it had only said "cuckoo" I would have known where we stood

PS can do a proper peregrine pic, see http://www.pbase.com/crisscross/imag...6/original.jpg....tho that hasn't got any yellow around eyes and back of beak, so its probably a robin

[RKB]

Originally Posted by crisscross

PS can do a proper peregrine pic, see http://www.pbase.com/crisscross/imag...6/original.jpg....tho that hasn't got any yellow around eyes and back of beak, so its probably a robin

That is indeed a peregrine, but a young juvenile. The breast is streaked rather than barred, and the skin on the bill and eyes is grey rather than yellow. It's like that for their first year of life.

[werdnal]

According to the old poem, he wouldn't be saying cuckoo now:

The Cuckoo comes in April
He sings his song in May
And then in June, he changes tune
In July he flies away!

[RKB]

Originally Posted by werdnal

According to the old poem, he wouldn't be saying cuckoo now:

The Cuckoo comes in April
He sings his song in May
And then in June, he changes tune
In July he flies away!

Funnily enough, I heard one this evening.

[werdnal]

Originally Posted by RKB

Funnily enough, I heard one this evening.

Yes, the one near us was calling up until the weekend, although not heard him this week.

[faz]

i always think cuckoos do look like falcons with wing shape etc but yes your picture is 100% a cuckoo

[The Woodman]

You're not on your own there, faz. They've caught me out a few times too with those sharply pointed wings!