Ethiopia -- Goshawk?? (1 Viewer)

[jstanleyg]

Greetings,

These photos are from Addis Ababa a couple days ago. Unfortunately, I missed the fly-off for more decisive field marks. As of now, I believe that this is a Black Goshawk (astur melanoleucus), aka Great Sparrowhawk in Birds of the Horn of Africa. However, I would expect to see a more defined white neck area even on a transitioning darker individual. The distinctly and widely barred tail seems to me to rule out a potential confusion with Common/Steppe Buzzard, but I am not sure. The apparent size was similar to Pied Crows sitting on nearby branches, but with the sitting position of this bird that could be deceiving. I have seen both Black Goshawk and Common Buzzard in this location before. Let me know what you think!

Justin

 

[xuky.summer]

what is about the bat hawk?

 

[jstanleyg]

what is about the bat hawk?

Hmmm, that would fit the size impression I had better. Do you think that there is too much white under the wing on the second picture? (I know, not a great photo; and neither photo really shows well how long the wing tips are in relation to the tail)

 

[xuky.summer]

Yes, it's not a bat hawk now, but it's not like a goshawk either. It's more like an eagle, but which kind? The iris color and the tail pattern don't match Wahlberg's Eagle. Maybe it's a very dark Booted Eagle? I've never seen one this dark, and the tail pattern doesn't quite fit either. I can't think of any other more suitable answers.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

I may be way off, but could it be a rather dark Ayres's hawk eagle ?

ML173690531 - Ayres's Hawk-Eagle - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML173690531; © Gregory Askew; Oromia, Ethiopia

macaulaylibrary.org

ML621561895 - Ayres's Hawk-Eagle - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML621561895; © isaac kilusu; Nairobi, Kenya

macaulaylibrary.org

ML621561896 - Ayres's Hawk-Eagle - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML621561896; © isaac kilusu; Nairobi, Kenya

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[tconzemi]

I'm looking at these 2 pictures for 2 days now and I am still stumped.

Many bars on tail without broader subterminal bar
Heavily barred undertail coverts
rather long tail but not as long as in accipiters
Feathered tarsi??? maybe an artefact
heavily barred primaries on white background
orange iris, yellow cere and bluish bill base, rather small bill !!!
Rather long toes and talons
speckled white below and dark chin

Finally I will join Joern: very dark juvenile Ayres's Hawk-eagle, but not a single picture anywhere for such a dark bird except in Clark & Davis 'African Raptors' plate 39 2f.

I stand to be corrected

Edit: African Bird Club dark morph found in Ethiopia

 

[njlarsen]

That sounds like something that should be found in the gallery here!
Niels

 

[jstanleyg]

I'm looking at these 2 pictures for 2 days now and I am still stumped.

Many bars on tail without broader subterminal bar
Heavily barred undertail coverts
rather long tail but not as long as in accipiters
Feathered tarsi??? maybe an artefact
heavily barred primaries on white background
orange iris, yellow cere and bluish bill base, rather small bill !!!
Rather long toes and talons
speckled white below and dark chin

Finally I will join Joern: very dark juvenile Ayres's Hawk-eagle, but not a single picture anywhere for such a dark bird except in Clark & Davis 'African Raptors' plate 39 2f.

I stand to be corrected

Edit: African Bird Club dark morph found in Ethiopia

Thank you for the well thought out response!

 

[jstanleyg]

That sounds like something that should be found in the gallery here!
Niels

I could try cleaning this photo up a bit. I only brought up the exposure slightly before posting.

 

[jstanleyg]

What do you think? Worth adding to the gallery? Over-edited?

 

[njlarsen]

I think worth adding, thanks!
Niels