SANParks.org Forums

Thank you J-ms, Deefstes and Johann.
I’m a bit about the Brown Snake-Eagle…definitely not a difficult bird to ID. I however looked at the bare legs and went searching between all the Hawks….lekker dof

As for the Goshawk…I’m completely confused. Both the Gabar and Dark Chanting juveniles in my book has white under the chin which my bird don’t have…is it the way it might be sitting or is it in a stage where it is between juvenile and adult plumage?

Yes it is at the stage where it would be called a sub adult and not a juvenile.

Saw this one on the Phabeni tar road busy eatings something. As far as I can read they are not a common sighting.
Has anyone else seen one?
Am I correct with the ID?

unfortunatly i have not seen one, but i bet you people like wildtuinman have

just jokes i mean he probaley has seen one and i am envieng him

i will try to find one next time i go to KNP!

truly awsome bird!

Unfortunately I can't agree with the eagle id.

I would say that it is a either a young ovambo sparrowhawk or a young dark chanting goshawk.

The white eyebrow(Ovambo), yellow eye(goshawk) and yellow/orange legs are pointers to this. Gabar goshawk has a white rump, not visible from these two pictures, which rules it out.

Now, which one would I pick?

Unfortunately the legs of a southern banded snake-eagle are grey and it has a large grey head. The tail is also shorter than this picture shows.

The chosen habitat for it would be coastal evergreen forests, riverine forest and open woodland in marshy areas. Non of the habitats in Kruger really fits this.

Geezlike, everything screams Ovambo Sparrowhawk in me. But that yellow eye bugs me.

looked it up in the bird book and it looks like a juv. dark chanting goshawk.

Young Ovambo Sparrowhawk definitely has a dark brown eye and a dark ear patch.

Which will exclude it from the contenders list.

This is a young Dark Chanting Goshawk.

Saw this to-day and not sure what it is that the DCG is holding here,visible at the bottom of the branch.Is this normal food as my old Roberts states "said not to harm chickens". Have seen SPCG kill doves up in the KTP,but this ??

Nannie, where did you see this?

It looks like a half a Kingfisher it is holding. The bill looks all red, pointing to Brown-Hooded kingfisher. The blue on the chest is throwing me out a bit.

If it is a Brown-Hooded Kingfisher and if I look at the general coloration of the raptor, then I say that this is possibly a Gabar Goshawk and not a Dark Chanting Goshawk.

Do you have any other picture of the bird?

I looked at it again and it would seem that the blue is part of the wing, or what is left of it, dangling across the chest.

I would go with Brown-Hooded Kingfisher(22-24cm). And would strongly consider Gabar Goshawk (28-31cm) and not the much larger Dark Chanting Goshawk(approx 50cm).

Taken in Lionspruit. Sorry the only other photo was of it in very thick bush and only the head and back were visible,trash it.Both photos were quick takes and the exposure with the cloudy background has necessitated some PS work.When it flew from the bush to the tree and then out of the tree I'm "almost" sure the secondaries feathers were dark.Part of a blue wing dangling across the chest sound's good to me. Thanks.

It has been 'lightened', so then I go for DCG.

Seen at Renosterpan, August 2008

A highlight from my trip to KNP in August. Saw a raptor in the top of a dead tree on the S8. He was close to the road, sun was in the right place, canon was loaded ... this was gonna be good ... Sneaked up on him, switched of the car and he flew .... sigh

Fortunately he only glided down to the ground. I proceeded to sneak right up to him in stages, wasn't in the least bothered by my presence

Sat with him for probably 15 minutes while he inspected various logs and leave litter for what seemed to be an imaginary morsel. Three other vehicles drove past never noticing him about 10m from the road even with me pointing.

Imho one good new sighting (photo opportunity) makes a trip worthwhile, doesn't matter what it is


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