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Elsa first posted this message in the Ovambo Sparrowhawk thread

We had the most stunning sighting of a Ovambo Sparrowhawk on our recent trip to the the park. [Subsequently identified as a Dark Chanting Goshawk]
It was sitting on a log right next to the road on the S3 Albasini Road, let us get our pics quite happily.
Then a second one not 500 metres further on.
We have posted the pic in our trip report in "Recent sightings" can put it here as well if need be.

Hi Elsa, won't you post your pics here and let everyone have a good look. My first impression after seeing them was that the bird in the photo is a Dark Chanting Goshawk. The legs look more red than yellow. If you look at WTM pic you can see the yellow of the legs. Not too sure what the light conditions were when your photo was taken, maybe we can get more opinions.

It also looks like a Dark Chanting Goshawk to me.

Here are the 2 photos Elsa posted in her trip report.

For sure DCG. Will split it off to its own topic. Ovambo sparrow hawk frequents more wooded areas, preferably eucalyptis stands.

It was pretty much in the middle of the day, bright sunshine and we were busy sifting through the bird book when a ranger came past with a school group, who told us quite confidently that it was a Ovambo Sparrowhawk. Maybe we accepted it too readily. Ooops
But I will bow to the expert's better judgement.
But it is a good pic, you have to admit!!

They are great pictures Elsa.

When you look at the bird you photographed you will notice that the fine bars only start from the breast of the bird running all the way down to the legs. In Ovambo Sparrowhawk this baring starts at the throat and then runs down to the legs (you can see it in the 2nd photo that WTM posted). The legs and cere (part where the beak meets the head) is yellowish in colour with Ovambo S Hawk but it can also become orange to red.

Thanks for sorting out my misidentification Francois.

I must admit at the time I remember commenting that the legs and cere looked more red, but I guess even rangers can be wrong at times. and me.
Unfortuanately my Field Guide (Ian Sinclair) only shows the bird from the back.
I don't think I will mix the 2 up again, or hope not anyway, so as long as I have learnt something, and I haven't confused too many people.

They are still stunning pics and a very good sighting.

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Thank you all so much for your help

And yet again I got another one

Am I right that this is a Juvenile Dark Chanting Goshawk?
We have seen it on the way from Pretoriuskop to Albasini Ruins this year in May.



Thanx a lot

Katy

hey katy
i would definately say its a juvenile goshawk, just cant be sure which one

The DCG's legs are getting orange!

I’m completely useless when it comes to raptors, please help me out with a few sightings we had last week:
Forgive the quality of the shots, the exposure on the whole bunch is terrible.

I'd rather go with Dark Chanting Goshawk.

I'll go along with those j-ms mentioned but I'll second Deefstes on the Dark Chanting Goshawk.