A Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) in the Po Delta, NE Italy

A Long-legged Buzzard, found by Aldo Tonelli on 24 and 25 August 2004, was photographede on 26 August 2004 by Menotti Passarella at Paltanara, close to the Scardovary bay, Po Delta, NE Italy.

"Pale type". Note the rather uniform, pale head, with a dark line through eye, the pale breast contrasting with darker belly; typically head and upper breast appear largely unstreaked. Feet and cere are yellow.

Note the bill with prominent hook and a dark triangle on nape. Iris seems to be intermediate between juvenile and adult, the black pupil standing out lightly, so this is maybe a subadult 3cy. Note the two whitish scapular bars

Plumage more of adult than subadult. This 'pale type' appears, from below,  largely pale with a dark, round carpal-patch and dark-tipped remiges forming a sharply defined, black trailing edge. Underwing coverts apperar largely unstreaked . Note the absence of the irregular step typical of most (all ?) 2cy due to the retained and faded juvenile outer primaries being shorter

Tail predominantly white; wing with upper hand showing a diffuse whitish flash outermost. Note again the two whitish scapular bars.