Raptor id help please (1 Viewer)

[eanin1]

This is a very long shot but can any of you raptor experts enlighten me as to what this raptor may be, it was circling high above the northern alentejo in Portugal

regards
Sean

 

[Steve G]

On lightening the image in photoshop I convinced myself that the inner primaries were paler -this & the general silhouette might fit a dark-phase Booted Eagle -but this is only a tentative suggestion.

 

[Bubbs]

What about Short-toed Eagle? It looks rather big headed and 'bull' necked.

 

[rosbifs]

What about Short-toed Eagle? It looks rather big headed and 'bull' necked.

Wings don't look long enough for me. Also 'circling' not hovering....
Neck does look big though!

 

[eanin1]

Thanks for suggestions folks, the bird was circling and did not hover at any stage.
I was trying to eliminate species based on the long primary feathers appearing as fingers and I count five, would this not eliminate booted eagle?

Sean

 

[Steve G]

The problem with a silhouette image of a banking bird is trying to get an accurate count of the fingers. State of moult & thus time of year that the image was taken are also relevant.
Here are links to two different Booted Eagle images -one has a clear 6 finger hand, whilst the other in a state of primary moult appears only to have four: www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36446 & www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=120091 yet both these images are closer & of greater detail than your one.

Sadly I suspect you will never know for certain as to what it is, though like Rosbifs I'm pretty sure it's not a Short-toed Eagle as the wing proportions seem all wrong.

 

[eanin1]

Steve

I have got another shot of that raptor which I thought was too small to be of any use but when increased in size it does actually look like a booted eagle.

Also on the thread of raptors any ideas on the bird in the second image attached

 

[Steve G]

Struggling with your second image; bizarre as it sounds when I first looked at it I thought Harris Hawk! -Have to hold my hands up & admit defeat!

Where was the image taken & do you have any notes of the bird? To me it looks to be long-tailed & short-winged ( or do I need bifocals?).

 

[eanin1]

It was taken just outside Alvor village in the algarve, didnt take any notes. I was taking pictures of 2 woodchat shrikes when the bird flew from a tree close by and I just took a quick shot of it when it landed. I never gave it a second thought until I was downloading the images and had a look at it.

 

[Simon G]

Bumping this one, cos I think it's worth attention. My first thought looking at your second image was that it could be another Booted Eagle:
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=75458

The proportions do look a bit odd, particularly the head, but that could be down to sleeked crown feathers and the effects of the photo. The general colour and square dark tail are good.

 

[lostinjapan]

Both pics look good for Booted Eagle. The latter a dark-phase bird.

I saw 1000's on the MIGRES survey, and when at rest they can in strong sunshine show that pale hindcrown and overall dark appearance.

Sean

Hiroshima

 

[Bubbs]

Booted Eagle.

 

[heuglini]

I agree with booted for flying bird, perched I am not sure about.

ciao
Michele

 

[eanin1]

Thanks to all for your replies on this matter

regards
Sean