Eagle and Bunting - Mai Po - Hong Kong (1 Viewer)

[ChinaBirds]

Would appreciate the attached two birds ID please, taken yesterday at Mai Po.

Thanks in advance

Cheers
Nick

 

[phil baber]

Gonna stick my neck out on 1st one....Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). Perhaps juvenile to 1st Winter?

 

[Gretchen]

Well, while I was consulting books, Phil beat me - I was thinking juv. Imperial too - the white tip to the tail, and the combo of dark and light feathering seen from the back - but the very light front view is a bit baffling. (But Phil's opinion is more valuable than my educated guess.)

 

[phil baber]

Pic 2

Am going with 1st winter Yellow-Breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola).

Compare...
http://images5.fotop.net/albums3/summerday/YellowBreastBunting/070918LV3017_9f.jpg
http://www.mikelangman.co.uk/Field Sketch/Sep92.jpg
http://k53.pbase.com/o4/55/694755/1/66508740.2hw8d1w5.ny6.jpg
http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/pics/YBB1.jpg

 

[Lappkrabben]

The first pic is imperial eagle (eastern). Golden eagle neck but still has the barrring/streaked feathers on belly. You can also see the white patches on the upperwing so this is a 3cy+ bird IMO.

Pic 2 looks IMO good for yellow-browed.

 

[MKinHK]

Hi Nick

Agree with Imperial Eagle - a terrific-looking bird!

The Bunting is less terrific - but on this view looks like a drab Yellow-breasted.

Cheers
Mike

 

[ChinaBirds]

Thanks Mike et al much appreciated

Cheers
Nick

 

[apbarr]

When you blow the 2nd pic up the tarsi appear unfeathered which would exclude the Aquila eagles?

 

[Lappkrabben]

About the bunting it is striking how the female/juv yellow-breasted bunting IMO show a clear resemblance to the female of the species in the link below:

http://www.pbase.com/stacyjon/image/97928965

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/1491349123/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinesevacation/3796735960/

Yesterday i did not have the time to find a good pictures to illustrate the resemblance.

I do not have any thoughts on the Hong-Kong bunting being a bobolink. Just wanted to show the similar looks.

 

[phil baber]

The first pic is imperial eagle (eastern). Golden eagle neck but still has the barrring/streaked feathers on belly. You can also see the white patches on the upperwing so this is a 3cy+ bird IMO.

Pic 2 looks IMO good for yellow-browed.

It's a Yellow Breasted.

The primary projection on a Bobolink is huge compared to this bird!

 

[Lappkrabben]

Well Phil B it's so much easier if you read the whole last message by me.

This is what i wrote in the end;

"I do not have any thoughts on the Hong-Kong bunting being a bobolink. Just wanted to show the similar looks"