Turkish authorities have released a bird that officials had accused of being an Israeli spy. Investigators reportedly forced the animal to undergo X-ray tests at a university hospital before determining that it was not carrying any surveillance or communications equipment with which it could transmit intelligence to handlers in the Jewish state.

Reports of the kestrel’s release were verified by Turkish media outlets. The Milliyet newspaper carried a front-page image of the X-ray results under the headline “Israeli agent.”

The kestrel is a monogamous raptor and, unusually for falcons, is subject to sexual dimorphism, with plumage often differing between males and females.

The falcon had been captured and turned over to authorities by villagers because of a metal band attached to its foot with the words “24311 Tel Avivunia Israel.” The ring was likely a tracking ID placed by Israeli scientists or conservationists. The incident echoes another from last year, in which a Turkish counterterrorism unit became involved after a dead European bee-eater with a ring stamped “Israel” was turned in by villagers for having unusually large nostrils, potentially embedded with Israeli electronic devices.

Accusations of Israeli spy birds have also been raised in Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

[Photo: Chris / Wiki Commons]