BigRedBirder (talk | contribs) m (→Identification) |
|||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | + | W. up to 72 inches | |
| + | *Long, slender wings | ||
| + | *Dark brown above | ||
| + | *White with patterning below | ||
| + | *Rather prominant nape crest | ||
| + | *Dark eye-stripe | ||
| + | *Beak is dark | ||
| + | *Eyes yellow | ||
| + | Talons sharp, with scutes for holding slippery prey. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Revision as of 19:53, 27 December 2007
- Pandion haliaetus
Identification
W. up to 72 inches
- Long, slender wings
- Dark brown above
- White with patterning below
- Rather prominant nape crest
- Dark eye-stripe
- Beak is dark
- Eyes yellow
Talons sharp, with scutes for holding slippery prey.
Distribution
North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Eurasia and Australasia.
Taxonomy
Four - six subspecies are recognised. Nominate race breeds in the Palearctic, carolinensis with paler breast-band in North America, ridgwayi in the Caribbean with whiter head and breast; and the smaller cristatus from Australasia. Birds from the Philippines to northern Australia are sometimes separated as melvillensis and those from New Caledonia as microhaliaetus but these races are not universally recognised.
Habitat
Closely tied to water at all seasons.
Behaviour
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Pandion haliaetus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
