Spotted sp. (NE Italy) (1 Viewer)

[Hippolais]

The pictures of a spotted eagle photographed few days ago in NE Italy by Massimo Bozza are turning on arguments:
- somebody is for juvenile sub-fulvescens GSE;
- somebody else for a very pale morph 2cal LSE;
Both are great birders with a lot of field experience.
Any other opinion, please??

 

[lou salomon]

well, it could even be hybrid but if i had to chose between the two i'd certainly see a 2cy GSE here!
that said, i have a lot of experience with LSE, less so with GSE.

 

[tconzemi]

well, it could even be hybrid but if i had to chose between the two i'd certainly see a 2cy GSE here!
that said, i have a lot of experience with LSE, less so with GSE.

I agree, pro GSE are upperwing primary flash reduced to shafts of fingers, heavy spotting everywhere, very light vent, on short crescent on base of outer primaries on underwing and pure LSE probably still in Africa, but hybrid obviously possible

 

[Hippolais]

Thank you Lou and Tom!! Anybody else??

 

[skbirder]

Agree with 2 cy fulvescens-type Greater Spotted Eagle and the reasons given by Tom. The spectre of hybrids is always there, but from these images there seems no reason to suspect hybrid origin for this bird.