Raptor ID, Zambia (1 Viewer)

[Sborg]

Would like help with the ID of these two raptors seen in South Luangwa National Park, 9 Dec. 2024. Please let me know
on what you base your thoughts. There are two photos of the 2nd raptor. Thank you.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

A bit tricky to be certain given the image quality (no offence intended), the first looks like Wahlberg's eagle (weak bill, small crest, obvious gape), whilst the second being mobbed by fork tailed drongo is one of the snake-eagles.
We can exclude Western banded on the basis of the tail, leaving Black-chested and Brown. I'd err toward the latter (these seemed to be by far the most common in SLNP) given the paler feathering in the crown, which I saw on a number of birds. Did you see the chest?

 

[Sborg]

A bit tricky to be certain given the image quality (no offence intended), the first looks like Wahlberg's eagle (weak bill, small crest, obvious gape), whilst the second being mobbed by fork tailed drongo is one of the snake-eagles.
We can exclude Western banded on the basis of the tail, leaving Black-chested and Brown. I'd err toward the latter (these seemed to be by far the most common in SLNP) given the paler feathering in the crown, which I saw on a number of birds. Did you see the chest?

Many thanks for the detailed response!

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

Wahlberg's Eagle and Brown Snake Eagle IMO

 

[Sborg]

Wahlberg's Eagle and Brown Snake Eagle IMO

Thank you!