Various IDs - Ethiopia, Addis Ababa (1 Viewer)

J

jstanleyg

Well-known member

• Feb 27, 2018

• #1

Here's what I have for these 4 birds:

1. Abyssinian Woodpecker (but the face pattern almost suggests Cardinal Woodpecker to me?)
2. Lanner Falcon
3. Immature Lanner? Was flying around with bird #2
4 & 5. Steppe Eagle

Let me know what you think! Thanks.

 

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tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Feb 28, 2018

• #2

Raptors are correct, no book for checking the woodpecker right now

 

M

MacNara

Well-known member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #3

jstanleyg said:

1. Abyssinian Woodpecker (but the face pattern almost suggests Cardinal Woodpecker to me?)

Click to expand...

I think you're safe with Abyssinian. Cardinal doesn't have the red rump, does it, among other things about this bird.

Love the punk cut; is that the style in Ethiopia these days?

 

J

JSmolders

Active member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #4

I was present, so my opinion doesn't count as a cross-check I assume

• 1. The pattern on the wing is pretty distinctive (fine perpendicular striping on wind panel) for the Abyssinian. I've attached my own photo of the bird, a bit dark but the pattern is clearer.

• 2. Lanner falcon is pretty distinct with the lack of barring on chest (cf. Peregrine/Barbary).

• 4-5 Maybe even the one I saw last week. Relative size to the Black Kites present seemed right (i.e. HUGE).

 

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J

JSmolders

Active member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #5

MacNara said:

Love the punk cut; is that the style in Ethiopia these days?

Click to expand...

Sure is. Even the fruit is following the trend (see photo).

 

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Tib78

Well-known member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #6

I am not happy with the eagle being IDed as a Steppe. Granted the gape line looks quite long but not out of range for Tawny and although it is difficult to explain the facial expression (and bill proportions etc...) looks better for Tawny.
Some less subjective features can be found on the underwing: the bicolored greater coverts showing white outer webs and dark inner webs occur in both species but are way more common in Tawny where this pattern is the rule rather than the exception.
The flight feathers barring look uncontrasty and lacks the marbled appearance so typical of adult Steppe (the bird looks adult to me but it is not easy to determine with certainty with these pics), likewise I would expect the dark tips shown by some secondaries and primaries to be more solidly black and contrasty on a Steppe. Also, the width of the pale bars on the secondaries look consistent throughout the whole length of the feathers, on Steppe the pale bars progressively widen on the distal part of the feathers. This last feature is usually more obvious on younger birds but it is present on adults too. The lack of a paler throat is also better for Tawny eagle.

 

tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Feb 28, 2018

• #7

thanks for the detailed analysis, most welcome, it seems that ethiopian Tawny Eagles (mountain range?) are often dark with well showing barring

 

Tib78

Well-known member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #8

tconzemi said:

thanks for the detailed analysis, most welcome, it seems that ethiopian Tawny Eagles (mountain range?) are often dark with well showing barring

Click to expand...

Indeed. And so called «*streaked form*» seems more common in Southern Africa.

 

J

JSmolders

Active member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #9

We observed the eagle very close: it surprised us on the road and flew across the valley before we could whip our cameras out. My overall impression of the size was that it was much larger than a Tawny, and I've been quite close to those. Otherwise, I think best evidence is the gape... though admittedly I am not an expert.

What about the upper tail coverts? Wouldn't we expect a contrast (i.e. lighter band) compared with both tail and rump if this were a Tawny?

 

J

jstanleyg

Well-known member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #10

Here's the other 5 shots I have of this eagle. Some were quite overexposed but you can still see some details related to underwing greater coverts, flight feathers, etc.

 

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J

jstanleyg

Well-known member

• Feb 28, 2018

• #11

And a few shots from others as well as one attached shot of Tawny from last year (sorry about the poor quality!)

Steppe:
http://www.africanbirdclub.org/afbid/search/birddetails/species/306/27925
https://www.hbw.com/sites/default/f...teppe_eagle_biria___back_65.jpg?itok=0LB71tP2


Tawny:
http://wildlifeobservationsworldwid...wide-Ethiopia-Tony-Eagle-topshot-1-von-11.jpg

 

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J

jstanleyg

Well-known member

• Mar 2, 2018

• #12

tconzemi said:

thanks for the detailed analysis, most welcome, it seems that ethiopian Tawny Eagles (mountain range?) are often dark with well showing barring

Click to expand...

It took me a day or two to change my mind, but I have now seen the light, so thanks for your through reply, Tib. For what it's worth, this is the first dark Tawny I have seen in Addis Ababa, all others have been the rufous nominate. This is partly why I was too quick to ID it as Steppe. The darker subspecies is noticably larger, too, as mentioned in Birds HOA.