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Found that this one was on what looks to me like a helmeted guineafowl kill:

Last week at a large pan in northern Namibia we saw this raptor soaring very high. First guess was Palm-nut Vulture but on looking at the photos we saw the barred tailed and lack of white tip to the tail. Also, note the dark patch on the collar. Anyone have any idea what it might be ?





Please excuse the image quality - the thing was VERY high !

Quick stab at it without looking at my books - juvenile martial?

It's definitely a juvenile martial, and ironically the painted plates in the old Robert's match exactly, for a change!

Very nice pics and question!

Ok another one....as it was not very big I think its a juv. bird..not sure if Martial/crowned/hawk eagle, but then mostly white with a few spots on chest? Seen on the road between Satara and Olifants in April.

Hope this helps arks:

So WTM I can assume that all three of the "white birds" seen are imm/juv. Martial Eagles?

The one posted above was taken near Satara, as said before..



And this one on the way to Timbavati picnic spot.



This one on the road from LS to Skukuza

I must say its very difficult trying to identify if they imm/juv. as they all look the same to me.

I would be very careful to assume anything when it comes to birding.

But yes, all three the pictures you took are of imm/juvenile Martial Eagle. They will get their full mature plumage at the age of 4 or 5 years.

In perspective, chances of seeing the similar looking imm/juvenile African Crowned Eagle in Kruger is quite slim. I have only once saw a mature bird on the Boesman's trail in 2005. The habitat in Kruger is far more preferable for Martial Eagle.

Nice to see so many youngsters around!

Forgot to add: The signs of grey on the head is a general rule to this being Martial Eagle. The African Crowned Eagle has an all pure white head, described in Sasol III as being blonde.

And again I need some help with a Raptor ID
We saw this one just a few kilometres north of Letaba in May.

Larger View

Sorry I haven't got a pic showing the front of the bird, he wasn't that cooperative

It is a young Martial Eagle. The grey cere and fine barring on the tail are good pointers.

Thanx wildtuinman for the speedy ID !

I did falter between a juv. Martial Eagle and a juv.Ayre's Hawk Eagle (but here the dark beack did not quite fit )

Thanx once again.

Katy

On our recent trip to Kruger we saw a Martial Eagle eating a Steenbok. Their diet does consist of small antelope but to see it was a whole different story







*Click for larger photos*