Yet another POB ID please?

[sharky620ti]

I got a shot of this over some heathland today.

Is it a marsh harrier?

[Shrike]

Hen Harrier Female with white rump

[tigertom]

Yes agree female hen harrier
MIKE

[htcdude]

Agree looks like female hen Harrier.

Nige

[Dogghound]

Its a 1st winter Hen Harrier, cant sex it yet from a photo, unless we get a good look at the eye (which can be subjective).

[tigertom]

Is it the light edging to the greater and primary coverts and darker secondaries which helps determine this is juv/1st winter bird? I was thinking juv at 1st due to those points, but changed my mind
MIKE

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by tigertom

Is it the light edging to the greater and primary coverts and darker secondaries which helps determine this is juv/1st winter bird? I was thinking juv at 1st due to those points, but changed my mind
MIKE

Uniform dark upper parts

The greater and secondary coverts have a buff/rufous tip which makes the fine line across the wing.

The dark secondaries being darker than the primaries, the secondaries also tend to stick out more in juvs.

The lack of defined barring on the primaries.

The fairly narrow wings (in comparison to adult wings which are more robust)

Also no signs of wing moult, or mixed ages of feathers.

You should have stuck with your initial thoughts , although the OP only asked for a species ID which is the main thing.

[sharky620ti]

Excellent, thanks for the replies.

This was taken on Exmoor in Devon. So does that mean this bird has migrated from up north somewhere?

And as this is a juvenile, if it was a male when will it start to get its greyish colouring?

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by sharky620ti

This was taken on Exmoor in Devon. So does that mean this bird has migrated from up north somewhere?

You cant say it could have come from anywhere including the continent.

Originally Posted by sharky620ti

And as this is a juvenile, if it was a male when will it start to get its greyish colouring?

Next year pretty much complete in autumn.