Grassland Birds - Feb 2024 - Pune - India (1 Viewer)

[wingsnwilds]

Saw these birds in a vast grassland area in Pune in Feb 2024 on the same day.

Both the eagles were seen along with Steppe eagles.
Eagle 1 did not seem as large as other Steppe eagles around it.
Eagle 2 seemed different due to it's colors but could be a moulting Steppe eagle (?)
Pipits did not call, so difficult to identify, not sure which features to look for but they appeared different than the usually seen paddyfield pipit.

Need help with the ID and pointers, please!

 

[wingsnwilds]

Any help with the eagle ID, please?

 

[lou salomon]

1. gape looks deep enough, rests of white greater coverts - Steppe Eagle
2. shorter gape, overall pale, pale irides - Tawny Eagle
sorry, can't help with the pipits, Tawny or Paddyfield.

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Saw these birds in a vast grassland area in Pune in Feb 2024 on the same day.

Both the eagles were seen along with Steppe eagles.
Eagle 1 did not seem as large as other Steppe eagles around it.
Eagle 2 seemed different due to it's colors but could be a moulting Steppe eagle (?)
Pipits did not call, so difficult to identify, not sure which features to look for but they appeared different than the usually seen paddyfield pipit.

Need help with the ID and pointers, please!

Agree with Lou's Aquila ID's.

As for the pipits, large Anthus ID can be very confusing so single imperfect images of (different?) individuals can be very taxing and will not always be identifiable. That said, pipit 1 is surely a Tawny, plumage and structure look fine but the very short curved hindclaw is outside the range of Paddyfield. 2 is another Tawny based on combination loral pattern, plain mantle and short hindclaw. Looking more closely , it can aged as 2cy according the pattern of the shortest tertial (T1) which is retained juvenile, dark center terminates in long point. a pattern unique to Tawny.

Pass on 3.

Edit Taken another look at pipit 2, the bird cannot be safely aged contra my sloppy comment above, the tertials have all been replaced and are all adult-type, broad buff fringes confirm, the dark center to the uppermost (T1) terminating in a long point. ML364376561 - Tawny Pipit - Macaulay Library for comparison Paddyfield Pipit

Grahame