request id assistance 2 birds of prey, Sharm El-Sheikh, 14-12-23 (1 Viewer)

[Earnest lad]

Please may I seek advice.
I was tracking a BOP with the camera in burst mode, and later on, noticed the images had 2 birds present, not one. There seems to be a bird with pale underparts and a darker bird (although lighting conditions aren't that good). One of the birds subsquently landed and perched a good distance away, and I could no longer see the other one. I am fairly confident (ish) the perched bird is a Bonelli's Eagle. I suspect the other one is too. However I would be grateful for comments please, as this trip was my first encounter with eagles and I am not confident with them. I was wondering if the seemingly darker bird is also a Bonelli's Eagle? I do apologize for the poor image quality due to heavy cropping and heat haze.

 

[Markus0803]

Could the second be a Black Kite?

 

[Butty]

Looks good for juvenile Bonelli's eagle (except possibly the narrow dark subterminal tail-band). Other one might be black kite.
Best if you don't post multiple very-similar crops of the same photo (1-3, 4-5. 6-8).

 

[Parryman1]

I would say definitely Bonelli's for second bird but not juvenile as this would show buff coloured undersides

 

[Earnest lad]

Could the second be a Black Kite?

I thought about Black Kite. Thank you. I see others agree. I think I will plump for that one. It is said to be a common species in that region

 

[Earnest lad]

Looks good for juvenile Bonelli's eagle (except possibly the narrow dark subterminal tail-band). Other one might be black kite.
Best if you don't post multiple very-similar crops of the same photo (1-3, 4-5. 6-8).

Thank you for the species identifications. I think those id's for the two . I will refrain from posting very similar crops in future. Good point. I too thought about Black Kite for the other. If so it is a "camera tick". Do you think the Black Kite is a definite id for that bird please or just a maybe?

 

[Earnest lad]

I would say definitely Bonelli's for second bird but not juvenile as this would show buff coloured undersides

Thank you so much. I will go with adult Bonelli's.

 

[Butty]

I think I will plump for that one [black kite]

Why, when you don't know if it is one?

Do you think the Black Kite is a definite id for that bird please or just a maybe?

See comments already posted.

I will go with adult Bonelli's.

Plumage is clearly wrong. See your field guide.
It's fine for worn juvenile.

 

[smiths]

No doubt about the Black Kite, I would say.
The Bonelli's Eagle is not a juvenile but is in its second calendar year (i.e. born in 2022), as is evident from its adult-like tail feathers and the two generations of secondaries (mostly adult-like, but with a few juvenile feathers remaining). See your field guide 😁.

 

[Butty]

See your field guide 😁

Actually not (all) in 'the' field guide. The additional inferences you would have to make come from the facts that the secondaries have mostly been moulted (as Mr/Ms Smiths says, and as I didn't notice) and that the tail is non-juvenile immature (as I suggested above - NB not adult).

 

[Earnest lad]

No doubt about the Black Kite, I would say.
The Bonelli's Eagle is not a juvenile but is in its second calendar year (i.e. born in 2022), as is evident from its adult-like tail feathers and the two generations of secondaries (mostly adult-like, but with a few juvenile feathers remaining). See your field guide 😁.

Thank you. I think in pic 0005 with the Black Kite, one can just about make out (I think) the slightly concave tail - ending perhaps giving the hint of the fork in the tail that a Black Kite has.
Thank you to for providing those details about the ageing of the Bonelli's Eagle. I will paste these into my notes

 

[Earnest lad]

Actually not (all) in 'the' field guide. The additional inferences you would have to make come from the facts that the secondaries have mostly been moulted (as Mr/Ms Smiths says, and as I didn't notice) and that the tail is non-juvenile immature (as I suggested above - NB not adult).

Thank you.