About the Author

James Tyrrell

Alumni

James had hardly touched a camera when he came to Londolozi, but his writing skills that complemented his Honours degree in Zoology meant that he was quickly snapped up by the Londolozi blog team. An environment rich in photographers helped him develop the ...

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26 Comments

on What Bird is This? #4

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Declan Porter
Explorer

I am calling it as a Dark Chanting Goshawk (Melierax metabates). There is no white margin on the secondaries or a white rump which for me rules out Gabar Goshawk. The orange legs rules out a number of other accipiters. The darker tail also points towards the Dark Chanting Goshawk and rules out the Lizard Buzzard.

Rory Hudson
Explorer

I am guessing it’s a Dark Chanting Goshawk

Brian Atkinson
Explorer

My first thought was Dark chanting goshawk and I’m going to stay with that assessment

Grant Scott
Explorer

Jamo, I’d say it’s a Dark Chanting Goshawk…diff to tell from a photo so I thought could also be Pale Chanting, but they shouldn’t be in the Sands…further West – so my final answer is Dark Chanting! ?

James Tyrrell
Alumni

Hi Grant.
You’re right; Pale CHantings are generally found in more arid areas further west.
Gonna have to wait until tomorrow for the answer…

Anthony Goldman
Guest contributor

Would also commit to a Dark Chanting Goshawk as don’t see Pale ones here

Irene Henkes
Digital Tracker

I totally agree……….

James,
i think it is a gabar goshawk.
not sure if it is melanistic but could be ?
take care,
george

James Tyrrell
Alumni

Hi George,
Good to hear from you.
You are very close.
When are you back for a visit?
Best egards

Gawie Jordaan
Master Tracker

I would take a wild guess (on quick view) a greater blue eared starling..

James Tyrrell
Alumni

Hi Gawie,
Take a closer look at the legs colour…

Doug Hammerich
Digital Tracker

So it’s NOT a grey disenchanted Kobayashi’s hupu? 🙂

Victoria Auchincloss
Master Tracker

I definitely need a course in birds. I recognize some of the colorful ones and the ones we see a lot. Lots to learn in January. Victoria

Colin Macdougall
Explorer

Pale Chanting Goshawk – semi-adult?

Marinda Drake
Master Tracker

BBJ?

Ann Richardson Berg
Digital Tracker

Hello James,
I think it is a Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk.
I love your challenge… This is a perfekt way of learning more about birds.

James Tyrrell
Alumni

Hi Ann.

Glad to hear it. Expect plenty more of these!

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

I’m agreeing with the Dark Chanting Goshawk…. ??

Kelley Boston
Explorer

The tail seems too short, but it could be because the picture is mostly straight on from the back. I am going with the Dark Chanting Goshawk.

Karin Maclarty
Explorer

Ian says it is an African Swamphen.

Ian Maclarty
Guest contributor

Hi James,
Having due regard to your warning that birds do not necessarily appear where you might expect, I am going with an African Swamphen. It is way out of its comfort zone but the red legs, and greenish/blueish screen on the head graduating down through a brownish shade to the pert black tail are really the only distinguishing factors

James Tyrrell
Alumni

Hi Ian,
The colour in the photo is slightly hard to gauge accurately. African swamphens tend to have slightly more visible green along the back, and the leg-to-body ratio would be slightly longer.
It’s a good outside-the-box guess, but unfortunately incorrect…

Ian Maclarty
Guest contributor

Hi James, It is way out of its comfort zone but am going with an African Swamphen. Red legs, thickish neck, sheen on head and neck (cant really see the colour but looks bluish or greenish), getting lighter as it goes down towards the pert black tail are my reasons together with your warning that all is not what is expected on many occasions.
Ian

Callum Evans
Guest contributor

My money is on dark chanting goshawk.

Maggy Sewell
Explorer

My guess is a dark chanting goshawk.

James Tyrrell
Alumni

Hi All,
The answer is a Dark Chanting Goshawk. The bird is very similar to a Pale Chanting Goshawk, but the latter prefers more arid areas further to the west and does not occur at Londolozi.

Well done to all those who got it right!

Congratulations to all those who got it right.

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