Raptor ID (1 Viewer)

[Murat Kocas]

Hello,

Could you please help me to identify this raptor?

Photo is shot in Serengeti/Tanzania on 20.07.2017

Regards

Murat Kocas

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Structurally (I can only see the thumbnails on my mobile) it’s reminiscent of Lesser Spotted Eagle - (non-breeding/imm) but it’s a difficult to make much sense of underwing plumage and I’m not 100% sold by any means.

 

[tconzemi]

Structurally (I can only see the thumbnails on my mobile) it’s reminiscent of Lesser Spotted Eagle - (non-breeding/imm) but it’s a difficult to make much sense of underwing plumage and I’m not 100% sold by any means.

I'd agree with that, especially with the 2 white crescents visible at base of outer primaries

 

[Deb Burhinus]

I'd agree with that, especially with the 2 white crescents visible at base of outer primaries

You can see more than I can - it’s practically a silhouette in the thumbnails I’m looking at (not sure why I can’t open the images?) but thanks for the verification.

 

[tconzemi]

should be easier on the mobile

 

[Deb Burhinus]

should be easier on the mobile

It should be but I’m having a glitch thats stopping me from downloading/opening up images at the moment- it might be a memory issue. I can’t open the thumbnails so can’t see what is clearly visible to me just from the thumbnail alone of your enlargement.

I’m not questioning the ID obviously - as I said, on structure alone, I thought it was LSE.

 

[exilipes]

What features point away from Wahlberg's ?

 

[tconzemi]

What features point away from Wahlberg's ?

Nothing, except double crescent but not really helpfull either in this kind of image, tail might even be better for Wahlberg’s

 

[exilipes]

Thanks.

Wahlberg's was my immediate impression, with protruding head too.

I note the photo was taken in July - I wouldn't have expected Lesser Spotted to be in Tanzania then but haven't checked and may well be wrong (?)

 

[Deb Burhinus]

Thanks.

Wahlberg's was my immediate impression, with protruding head too.

I note the photo was taken in July - I wouldn't have expected Lesser Spotted to be in Tanzania then but haven't checked and may well be wrong (?)

Many Immature/non-breeding Lesser Spotted Eagles stay in Africa during the Northern breeding season so not sure why you would be particularly surprised at a July record - movements in Africa are not that well documented but it seems perfectly feasible to me.

FWIW The tail seems rather short and full to me and the bill looks a bit large in the OP too (Wahlberg’s have long necks but small bill)

ML276505241 - Wahlberg's Eagle - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML276505241; © Zak Pohlen; Sofala, Mozambique

macaulaylibrary.org

cf LSE

ML242981181 - Lesser Spotted Eagle - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML242981181; © Volker Hesse; Uckermark, Brandenburg, Germany

macaulaylibrary.org

Note the longer/heavier bill

Small bill of Walberg’s is easier to see on pale bird

ML243459631 - Wahlberg's Eagle - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML243459631; © Tanya Hattingh; Mpumalanga, South Africa

macaulaylibrary.org

I am able to access the larger version of the images now - the underwing does show that double comma that Tom pointed to this morning however, the plumage is still not definitive for me.

 

[exilipes]

Many Immature/non-breeding Lesser Spotted Eagles stay in Africa during the Northern breeding season so not sure why you would be particularly surprised at a July record - movements in Africa are not that well documented but it seems perfectly feasible to me.

 

[exilipes]

No real reason. Probably reflects my lack of knowledge of LSE and the area the photo was taken. I think of LSE as a summer migrant to the north, wintering in Africa