Raptors

Maeusebussard. 2020-04-17 08.14.46 Wald Fehraltorf
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-17.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium-to-large bird of prey which has a large range. A member of the genus Buteo, it is a member of the family Accipitridae. The species lives in most of Europe and extends its breeding range across much of the Palearctic as far as the northwestern China (Tien Shan), far western Siberia and northwestern Mongolia.^[1][2] Over much of its range, it is a year-round resident. However, buzzards from the colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere as well as those that breed in the eastern part of their range typically migrate south for the northern winter, many journeying as far as South Africa.^[3] The common buzzard is an opportunistic predator that can take a wide variety of prey, but it feeds mostly on small mammals, especially rodents such as voles. It typically hunts from a perch.^[4] Like most accipitrid birds of prey, it builds a nest, typically in trees in this species, and is a devoted parent to a relatively small brood of young.^[2] The common buzzard appears to be the most common diurnal raptor in Europe, as estimates of its total global population run well into the millions.^[2][5] [more]
Vocalization: Quite vocal. [Link]
Calls: Most typical call a wailing, mewing "peeoooo". Quite similar to Rough-legged Buzzard, but the pitch falls more rapidly and is then sustained for the last part of the call. [Link]
Physical details: length=51-57 cm, wingspan=113-128 cm, weight=550-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20210421_090653 birdnet 1464 - Common Buzzard - 2021-04-21 09:06:53 - Common Buzzard - Fehraltorf.mp3 2021-04-21 09.06.53 Fehraltorf (song)

Young goshawk in Fehraltorf. A young hawk has these thrush-style streaks on its breast. When grown, these become bars. 2021-01-17 10.19.26 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-17.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
A young northern goshawk appeared in a tree on the Bahnhofstrasse in Fehraltorf one snowy January day in 2021.
Appearance and identification: A medium-large raptor in the family Accipitridae, which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. As a species in the genus Accipiter, the goshawk is often considered a "true hawk".[3] The scientific name is Latin; Accipiter is "hawk", from accipere, "to grasp", and gentilis is "noble" or "gentle" because in the Middle Ages only the nobility were permitted to fly goshawks for falconry. [Link]
Vocalization: Series of short "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke". [Link]
Calls: More resonant, both sharper and deeper pitched than similar call of Sparrowhawk, and much slower. Also a wailing "peeeaaaaw". [Link]
Physical details: length=48-62 cm, wingspan=135-165 cm, weight=600-2000 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Sperber am Luppmen nicht weit vom Bahnhof 2021-02-06 10.49.12 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-06.
General: The Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), also known as the northern sparrowhawk or simply the sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Adult male Eurasian sparrowhawks have bluish grey upperparts and orange-barred underparts; females and juveniles are brown above with brown barring below. The female is up to 25% larger than the male – one of the greatest size differences between the sexes in any bird species. Though it is a predator which specialises in catching woodland birds, the Eurasian sparrowhawk can be found in any habitat and often hunts garden birds in towns and cities. Males tend to take smaller birds, including tits, finches, and sparrows; females catch primarily thrushes and starlings, but are capable of killing birds weighing 500 g (18 oz) or more. [more]
Vocalization: Series of short "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke", with rising pitch. [Link]
Song: Meist in Horstnähe zu hören. Eine Reihe von kurzen Einzellauten, [Link]
Calls: wie „gigigi“. Ähnlichkeit mit Wendehals, aber klarer und schneller. Schneller auch als Grünspecht und tiefer als Turmfalke. [Link]
Less resonant and less full than similar call of Goshawk, and much faster. Also a short "peeaaaa", shorter and more squeaky than Buzzard. [Link]
Physical details: length=28-38 cm, wingspan=55-70 cm, weight=110-342 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC818384 - Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus - call, Brandenburg, Germany. Source: XENOCANTO XC818384 - Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus - call, Brandenburg, Germany.mp3 Germany (call)

Steinadler. 2022-05-22 12.58.16 Leuk and surroundings
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-05-21.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahresvogel RL 2
Vocalization: Not very vocal. A short, clear, yelping "kew". Sometimes in series in mellow tempo. [Link]
Calls: Also mewing, Buzzard-like calls. [Link]
Physical details: length=75-88 cm, wingspan=204-220 cm, weight=2840-6665 g
Habitats: Agricultural

MerlinBirdID meint Rohrweihe. 2022-05-21 16.00.56 Leuk and surroundings
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-05-21.
General: The western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) is a large harrier, a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa. It is also known as the Eurasian marsh harrier. The genus name Circus is derived from the Ancient Greek kirkos, referring to a bird of prey named for its circling flight (kirkos, "circle"), probably the hen harrier. The specific aeruginosus is Latin for "rusty".^[3] [more]
Calls: Call: A sharp "kwii-uuu" of about a seconds length, rapidly ascending in pitch, and ending on a falling tone. [Link]
Physical details: length=48-56 cm, wingspan=115-130 cm, weight=405-800 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Wikipedia: Bearded vulture Source: OTHER 1200px-Bartgeier_Gypaetus_barbatus_front_Richard_Bartz.jpg
General: The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the lammergeier and ossifrage, is a bird of prey and the only member of the genus Gypaetus. This bird is also identified as Huma bird or Homa bird in Iran and north west Asia. Traditionally considered an Old World vulture, it actually forms a minor lineage of Accipitridae together with the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), its closest living relative. It is not much more closely related to the Old World vultures proper than to, for example, hawks, and differs from the former by its feathered neck. Although dissimilar, the Egyptian and bearded vulture each have a lozenge-shaped tail—unusual among birds of prey. [more]
Calls: Display call a thin whistling with several register breaks, reminiscent of Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus). A passerine-like trill is also sometimes heard, but generally not a vocal bird. [Link]
Physical details: length=100-115 cm, wingspan=266-282 cm, weight=5000-7000 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Im Baum am Pfäffikersee 2020-05-20 08.58.48 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-13.
Geography: Very common here in the summer, I've seen up to 30 on a freshly plowed field, and you can seldom look up without seeing one. (You should look closely though, as they'll often circle in the air with buzzards.)They migrate to Spain in the winter, but increasing numbers stay here.Elsewhere in Europe they've been decreasing, while here they've become so successful that young birds have trouble finding a territory of their own. Wikipedia mentions them competing with the black kite, which I've never identified locally, so perhaps that's part of the key to their success. [Link]
Vocalization: Mainly heard in breeding season. A piercing long whistle, quickly ascending, then descending "piuuu". Often used in movies to give an eerie wildlife mood. [Link]
Calls: Differs from Black Kite in being a clear whistle all the way through the call, without "shivering". Higher pitched than Buzzard, and with less pause between calls. [Link]
Physical details: length=60-66 cm, wingspan=175-195 cm, weight=800-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Rotmilan. 2020-05-24 16.56.51 Luppmen (song)

Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Check if red kite begging calls. 2021-08-14 10.02.45 (begging call)

Call attributes: begging call Frequency: ,
Presence: 01-01 - 12-31
Breeding: 04-10 - 07-28
Migration in: 01-20 - 04-30
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-28

Black kite in the air and on the ground Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Black_Kite_(Milvus_migrans).jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-04-03.
This is on my list of birds to find, as it is supposed to be exist in this area,but I've never identified one. Their call (see Vogelwarte link) is a rapid sequence of whistles, and definitely distinct from that of the red kites. Visually they are harder to tell apart, but if you look closely, it should be clear: the black kite has less of a V in its tail and no big white patch at the wingtips. birdguides.com has a guide to distinguishing black and red kites, and says black are much rarer, but that is not true in Switzerland - Vogelwarte.ch says Switzerland has 2800–3500 red kites and 2000-3000 black kites.
Tenatively identified one flying high over Lake Lugano at San Salvatore in Ticino.
Often near water.
Vocalization: A piercing, first ascending then descending long "piuuu". Starting as a clear tone then gradually taking on a vibrating character that differs from Red Kite. Also a sharp "kieee -ki- ki-ki". More vocal than Red Kite. [Link]
Physical details: length=55-60 cm, wingspan=160-180 cm, weight=630-941 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20210814_093255 birdnet 1932 - Wild guess was once black kite, check - Not analyzed - Volketswil.mp3 2021-08-14 09.32.55 (song)

Wikipedia: European honey-buzzard Source: OTHER 1200px-Wespenbussard_European_honey_buzzard_Pernis_apivorus%2C_crop.jpg
General: The European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), also known as the pern or common pern,^[2] is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. [more]
Calls: Call an ascending, then descending; "pjuuuuu" much thinner than buzzards, and with a distinct register break when changing pitch. May be confused with newly fledged Buzzard chicks. [Link]
Physical details: length=52-60 cm, wingspan=135-150 cm, weight=360-1050 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Osprey / Fischadler (Pandion haliaetus)

Osprey in flight. 2023-09-27 12.22.08 Florida
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-04-21.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: Falco haliaetus Linnaeus, 1758 [more]
Calls: Calls with sequences of short, soft and clear whistling notes. Often in series with rising pitch, then ending with a few lower pitched notes. [Link]
Physical details: length=55-58 cm, wingspan=145-170 cm, weight=1120-2050 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ 2023-10-12 15 55 surprising sound of an osprey. 2023-10-12 15.55.00 New England (song)

Flying by Pfäffikon 2020-04-24 12.12.44 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-24.
Oft seen in the fields around Fehraltorf, flapping away to stay in place.
Calls: Turmfalke kann auch wie einen Specht tönen, scharf und relativ hoch [Link]
Most common call a fast series of short, high-pitched "ke-ke-ke". Much less raucous than Merlin or Peregrine. [Link]
Physical details: length=32-35 cm, wingspan=71-80 cm, weight=156-252 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20210421_092214 birdnet 1466 - Eurasian Kestrel uncertain - Eurasian Kestrel - Pf=C3=A4ffikon.mp3 2021-04-21 09.22.14 Pfäffikersee (song)

Wikipedia: Eurasian hobby Source: OTHER 1200px-Eurasian_Hobby_%2814574008925%29_%28cropped%29.jpg
General: The Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo) or just simply hobby, is a small, slim falcon. It belongs to a rather close-knit group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Hypotriorchis.^[2][3][4] [more]
Vocalization: Varied, but not very vocal. [Link]
Calls: Calls when courting and at breeding ground. Most common sound a high-pitched "tew-tew-tew". Similar to Wryneck, but less pleading. Also a sneezing "ktcho". [Link]
Physical details: length=30-36 cm, wingspan=82-92 cm, weight=131-340 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Source: BirdNet 20200507_131403 birdnet 488 BirdNet guesses eurasian hobby or eurasian jay - No confident detection.mp3 2020-05-07 13.14.03 Hungerseeli (song)

Wikipedia: Red-footed falcon Source: OTHER Falco_vespertinus_3_%28Martin_Mecnarowski%29.jpg
General: The red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus), formerly the western red-footed falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting. It is migratory, wintering in Africa. It is a regular wanderer to western Europe, and in August 2004 a red-footed falcon was found in North America for the first time on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.^[2] [more]
Habitats: Agricultural

Wikipedia: Peregrine falcon Source: OTHER Falco_peregrinus_good_-_Christopher_Watson.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), also known as the peregrine,^[2] and historically as the duck hawk in North America,^[3] is a widespread bird of prey (raptor) in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-grey back, barred white underparts, and a black head. The peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 320 km/h (200 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop (high-speed dive),^[4] making it the fastest bird in the world, as well as the fastest member of the animal kingdom.^[5][6][7] According to a National Geographic TV program, the highest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 389 km/h (242 mph).^[8][9] As is typical for bird-eating raptors, peregrine falcons are sexually dimorphic, with females being considerably larger than males.^[10][11] [more]
Vocalization: A harsh, drawn out "kiaaaa" with emphasised endings repeated in series. Much slower than Merlin, but higher pitched than Gyrfalcon. [Link]
Calls: Also shorter, coarse warning-calls. [Link]
Physical details: length=36-48 cm, wingspan=95-110 cm, weight=582-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Merlin SoundID bird list. Source: OTHER Merlin SoundID bird list.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Series of harsh "kwik-wik wik". Coarseness similar to Peregrine, but pace much quicker. [Link]
Calls: Female call harsher than male. Lacking the clearer tones and attack of Kestrel. [Link]
Physical details: length=25-30 cm, wingspan=50-62 cm, weight=125-300 g
Habitats: Agricultural