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A couple Eagles from June 2011. Fighting over food in the fields near the Tihongonyeni waterhole (Mopani area).

First one I think is Tawny Eagle, but quite a few look very similar. What should one look for positive ID ?





TIA, Michael

For the second one (the victim of the food robbery) I have little idea. Guess an Juvenile Eagle of some sort. Also Tawny???



Again many thanks in advance for any help, Michael

Hi Michael

I would first like to say that both are Tawny Eagles and I think you are correct in saying the latter is a juvenile.

Brown Eagles can sometimes be very difficult to ID as you get numerous ones that can be in the same habitat.

One thing I have learnt over the years, is that by way of elimination, one can get to a possitive ID much easier than paging through the hordes of Brown Raptors in your field guide.

What I would do here is the following. You look at what eagles can be confused with a Tawny and you will see Lesser Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle. The quickest way to eliminate all three, are by looking at which birds are migrants. All three are summer migrants, and in June, the only real brown Eagle to occupy Kruger will be a Tawny.

This is not to say this is the best way to ID, but it makes it easier.. Same can be done with Habitat, range etc.


There are a multitude of ID feautures but I thought I would share the above tip as it really helped me a lot.

Thanks deefstes and WTM. It actually makes much more sense for it to be an immature juvenile fish eagle

Yeah I don't think it's an immature juvenile Fish-Eagle. It's either an immature Fish-Eagle or a juvenile Fish-Eagle My money is on immature.

typo — I meant 'immature'

Thanks DD for confirmation. And will surely keep the tip in mind, although I guess need to see more birds out there to be confident in ID-ing.

/M

Last one for today. Both photographed in Ithala NP, KZN, August 2011.

First one probably to far (bad quality) for positive ID, but I can't even seem to settle on a family?


All the best, Michael

The heavily barred underparts, big robust frame and head and the place where you saw it.. Crowned Eagle. Great sighting that!!

Not so bad... Crowned eagle

Thanks again DD and Johan

Hi, I saw this bird near Shingwedzi. Is it possible to identify this bird?

I'll give you a hint; It's not an Osprey...

Help
Thought this is a Juvenile Dark Chanting Goshawk. Based purely on its size.

Noel, can you please tell us where and when you saw this bird?