Eagle - Bulgaria (1 Viewer)

[Nikolai Kolev]

I saw this bird today(17.08.2023) in the middle of the country. My thoughts are about juvenile steppe eagle, but i don't have experience with this species witch is rare in Bulgaria.

 

[kuzeycem]

An immature Eastern Imperial Eagle, imo. Paler inner primaries are typical.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Lucky that Steppe Eagle doesn't occur there.

 

[kuzeycem]

Lucky that Steppe Eagle doesn't occur there.

Surely it does? Would be extremely surprising otherwise.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Surely it does? Would be extremely surprising otherwise.

Not in Bulgaria I don't think?

 

[kuzeycem]

Not in Bulgaria I don't think?

Here's one: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67707865

 

[Andy Adcock]

Here's one: https://ebird.org/checklist/S67707865

Sorry, hadn't read the ID suggestion in the OP as I always think it corrupts my thought process.

Can you tell me why the OP isn't a Steppe then, like many others I find this group tough but always thought juvenile, Steppe, easiest based on the white underwing line?

 

[Brian J Small]

Feels better for EIE for me, but without any great experience in August

ML493690951 Imperial Eagle Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML493690951; © Ondřej Boháč; Olomoucký kraj, Czech Republic

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[tconzemi]

Can you tell me why the OP isn't a Steppe then, like many others I find this group tough but always thought juvenile, Steppe, easiest based on the white underwing line?

It's a second calendar year bird: all secondaries juvenile, inner primaries moulting
The white line is far from being one single row of coverts but a messy mixture of bleached and missing feathers
The typical EIE as here has light vent, dark breast and lighter head as well as unmarked very light inner primaries versus lighter but heavy marked in Steppe including base of whole hand being barred in Steppe