Bird remains id

mordeith

Hi there,
A friend of mine came across the remains here in the local woods. Looks like it might be a juvenile raptor of some kind judging by the feet?

Tiercel Dave

Any indication of size? Even so, judging by thickness of legs I would guess it's the remains of a young Buzzard.....

mordeith

Tiercel Dave wrote: »

Any indication of size? Even so, judging by thickness of legs I would guess it's the remains of a young Buzzard.....

The person who came across it said it was about the size of a chicken. She sent the picture to Birdwatch Ireland which said it was a pigeon!?

New Home

A pigeon? With those talons??

PirateShampoo

It could be a pigeon, they do look similar.

New Home

1. Those are yellow, the pigeon's aren't.
2. The claws/nails/talons are black, the pigeon's aren't.
3. The skin is much coarser than the pigeon's.
4. The sheer size of them, compared to the pigeon's!
5. The shape of the toes is totally different, too.

cd07

Almost certainly a young Buzzard

fryup

killed or died and then eaten?

mordeith

fryup wrote: »

killed or died and then eaten?

Maybe only just left the nest and easy prey for a fox?

recedite

mordeith wrote: »

Maybe only just left the nest and easy prey for a fox?

I would say so. Maybe fell out before it was fledged. The feathers look very downy.
Its a very large bird for a chick, so buzzard seems likely.