Eagle, Singapore (1 Viewer)

[wuwu1277]

Hi, These two blur photos were taken in Singapore yesterday, not very sure if can be IDed, pls advise, thanks a lot in advance

 

[Deb Burhinus]

I’m getting the impression of a Black Kite here rather than an eagle sp. I need to look at a larger screen - juvenile Brahminy would be a possibility here too?

 

[Grahame Walbridge]

Juvenile Brahminy Kite.

Grahame

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Juvenile Brahminy Kite.

Grahame

Was just about to post again having looked at some images and enlarged the OP but you beat me to it.

Yes, absolutely Brahminy Kite - a conclusion I had already come to - noting the unbarred remiges and general structure, underwing pattern and broader hand cf to Black Kite (not immediately obvious on the rather small/dark image my mobile phone.)

 

[THE_FERN]

Pale wing panels with dark primary tips are pointers to brahminy kite here, as is lack of a forked tail (although that's difficult to judge from these photos)

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Pale wing panels with dark primary tips are pointers to brahminy kite here

That wouldn’t be a main criteria for me to separate juvenile Brahminy tbh, juvenile migrans also can present with pale bases to the primaries contrasting with darker fingers

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Black Kite » Milvus migrans

even lineatus the default sub-sp - although not as extensive

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Black Kite » Milvus migrans

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Black Kite » Milvus migrans

Agree the point though as part of the list of features already highlighted above but as you say the “lack of a forked tail,“ would not be part of the equation here because of the angle which is why I didn’t mention it 🙂

 

[wuwu1277]

Dear all experts: Thank all of you so much for the kind ID descriptions. I learnt to differentiate these two birds. Again, thanks a lot!

 

[viator]

I’m getting the impression of a Black Kite here rather than an eagle sp. I need to look at a larger screen - juvenile Brahminy would be a possibility here too?

On the question at the end... Brahminy Kite is a common resident breeder, Black Kite is a rare passage migrant/winter visitor - from memory just 1-2 records so far this winter a couple of months ago.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

On the question at the end... Brahminy Kite is a common resident breeder, Black Kite is a rare passage migrant/winter visitor - from memory just 1-2 records so far this winter a couple of months ago.

Thanks Viator - I am not familiar with Singapore, hence the question, and part of the reason I finally concluded it was a Brahminy after checking range maps, so thank you for the clarification - Always appreciate words from the ground!

 

[THE_FERN]

That wouldn’t be a main criteria for me to separate juvenile Brahminy tbh, juvenile migrans also can present with pale bases to the primaries contrasting with darker fingers

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Black Kite » Milvus migrans

even lineatus the default sub-sp - although not as extensive

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Black Kite » Milvus migrans

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Black Kite » Milvus migrans

Agree the point though as part of the list of features already highlighted above but as you say the “lack of a forked tail,“ would not be part of the equation here because of the angle which is why I didn’t mention it 🙂

In my experience, in the field, the wing panels are usually quite clear. Maybe others have other experience.

 

[Deb Burhinus]

In my experience, in the field, the wing panels are usually quite clear. Maybe others have other experience.

Well that’s the point I was making - juvenile Black Kite also show white ‘wing panels’ and dark primaries from below which is why I would not necessarily use the ‘wing panel’ as separating criteria for juvenile Black Kite and juvenile Brahminy Kite.

See juvenile Brahminy

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Brahminy Kite » Haliastur indus

juvenile lineatus

Oriental Bird Club Image Database : Black Kite » Milvus migrans

Anyway, that’s just me and my ‘experience in the field’ and how I would go about prioritising distinguishing features - the fact that the OP shows an unbarred wing panel cf to the barred remiges of Black Kite to me is more significant 🙂