Another raptor for ID !!! (1 Viewer)

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Sumit

Well-known member

• Dec 21, 2003

• #1

Hi Folks!
This one is hot off the chip, having been shot today. What is really interesting is that it was shot very close to Kolkata city, where large raptors are extremely rare and aside from Black Kites and the very occasional Crested Serpant eagle, anything else is an extreme rarity. This is not a large bird, about 60-68 cms, and was seen near a waterbody where it made a couple of fruitless dives at the waterfowl. The bird was far away when I got a chance to shoot and the image quality suffers as a result.
Thanks and regards,
Sumit

 

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Edward woodwood

Member

• Dec 21, 2003

• #2

Booted Eagle - landing lights are distinctive?

 

S

Sumit

Well-known member

• Dec 21, 2003

• #3

Thanks Tim! Booted looks good but as range does not extend this far east, a confirmation is very welcome. Obviously the size estimate has to come down but I think it is better to write what I thought rather than be guided by reference books.
Thanks,
Sumit

 

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Edward woodwood

Member

• Dec 21, 2003

• #4

Hi Sumit - if you didn't see the eagle thread, Steve Parry thought the bird to be a clanga. I will also send it on to Bill Clark for an opinion

 

S

Sumit

Well-known member

• Dec 21, 2003

• #5

Hi Tim,
Did see it. Krys also came back with clanga, am waiting for Rishad's views and Bill's will be very welcome. Thanks for your help.
And the Booted above is a very very good range record. 2nd recorded bird in 10 years in the area!!! Was keen that someone else confirmed the ID before sending out the record. Thanks a ton!!
Cheers!
sumit

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Dec 21, 2003

• #6

No dispuing this one... Booted all the way

 

B

Bubbs

Well-known member

• Dec 21, 2003

• #7

Sumit said:

Hi Folks!

Booted Eagle.

Click to expand...

 

Brian Stone

A Stone chatting

• Dec 22, 2003

• #8

Just to add to the general agreement: tail shape, inner primary wedge and shoulder spots = Booted Eagle
What a bootie!

 

J

jayhunter

Well-known member

• Dec 22, 2003

• #9

Anothe great raptor Sumit, as you say most of the Raptors seen in and around your main cities are the Black Kites.

 

jonafly

Well-known member

• Dec 22, 2003

• #10

huh??

Thought this was booted???

 

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Michael Frankis

conehead

• Dec 22, 2003

• #11

Hi Jonafly,

Yes it is, too. Booted Eagles come in both pale (yours) and dark (Sumit's) phases. The pale phase is much the commoner in Europe, but the relative frequancy of pale and dark could be different in India and elsewhere

Michael

 

Steve G

RAINBIRDER

• Dec 22, 2003

• #12

Hi Jonafly,
Michael beat me to it. Light, dark & intermediate phases exist. As mentioned above the classical "landing lights" are a feature to look out for as are the pale secondary panels. Here is another thread that covered this including a picture of a dark phase Booted Eagle: last post on page 1
www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=9778
Steve

 

Brian Stone

A Stone chatting

• Dec 22, 2003

• #13

Steve G said:

Hi Jonafly,
Michael beat me to it. Light, dark & intermediate phases exist. As mentioned above the classical "landing lights" are a feature to look out for as are the pale secondary panels. Here is another thread that covered this including a picture of a dark phase Booted Eagle: last post on page 1
www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=9778
Steve

Click to expand...

I thought the pale wing panel was on the inner primaries. The secondaries are dark. I hope I am right, otherwise some of my wing descriptions are going to look a bit silly.

I think other species show pale shoulder patches ("landing lights") too so this feature isn't diagnostic on its own.

 

Steve G

RAINBIRDER

• Dec 22, 2003

• #14

brianhstone said:

I thought the pale wing panel was on the inner primaries. The secondaries are dark. I hope I am right, otherwise some of my wing descriptions are going to look a bit silly.

I think other species show pale shoulder patches ("landing lights") too so this feature isn't diagnostic on its own.

Click to expand...

Hi Brian,
You are right, just realised what I'd written-thanks.
Steve

 

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Edward woodwood

Member

• Dec 22, 2003

• #15

I think other species show pale shoulder patches ("landing lights") too so this feature isn't diagnostic on its own.[/QUOTE]

Hi Brian
yep, think HB's show these too on occasion.

Don't think any of the 'confusion' species for Booted such as Black Kite show them though....might be wrong, goodness knows it wouldn't be the first time!

 

H

HH75

Well-known member

• Dec 22, 2003

• #16

Hi Sumit,
Unless there is another species in India that looks exactly like one,my vote is for an obvious dark morph Booted.As well as the "landing lights",the pattern of the upper- and underwings and the pale band at the tail base point towards this identification,as does the head shape and expression(!).Great photos,btw!
Harry H