Today’s bird is a perfect example of how you can easily put the blinkers on when it comes to this pursuit of identifying avian creatures.
Driving the northern section of the reserve, Rangers James Souchon, Greg Pingo and I spotted it atop a tree about 150 metres away.
James and I – who have been here for the whole lockdown period – bantered back and forth between one or two options, before Greg – who has recently returned to the reserve and was therefore coming in with a fresh eye – simply took a few seconds longer, weighed up all the available information in his head, and made the correct call.
Once pointed out, like many puzzles, it was obvious.
Unfortunately the photo below isn’t as obvious, as our view at the time gave us a bit more information, but given what I’ve said above, there is probably enough cryptic info to get you to the right answer.
Good luck!
The ID will be revealed in next Friday’s’s Week in Pictures post…
![Img 0606[1]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/17172539/IMG_06061-280x178.jpg)
![Wild Dog Pups Stalking Each Other On Road (3) [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/14135303/Wild-Dog-Pups-Stalking-each-other-on-Road-3-RCB-280x178.jpg)
I think it is a Peregrine Falcon?? Hobby is a lot darker & will have left by now maybe?
Thanks
If I look at the wing tips, can it be a vulture?
James, some kind of hawk?
James, Maybe Tawny Hawk
Black Harrier
This is a Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis). The brown upper, white underwing coverts with the secondaries having few black bars are diagnostic and separate it from a Martial Eagle
Beaudouins Snake Eagle
Tawny Eagle or Martial Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Is it an African Fish Eagle, James?
My guess would be an African Barred owlet as the size and color looks good and it is easily confused with the Pearl Spotted Owlet!! A wild guess though😂
Is it a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl?
No idea , but the wing shape and position are beautiful!
Possibly a Motagu’s or Pallid harrier, or an African hawk eagle.
I’m thinking juvenile goshawk?
Hi James,
Lockdown is making you mean! I am guessing that your two options are Lizard Buzzard and Gabar Goshawk, though size is not easily judged in the pic. The white rump is common to both but the distinctive feature is the white broad leading edge to the under wing with dotted thin stripes at the trailing edge which for me makes it a Lizard Buzzard. Also you described the bird as having been perched atop a tree, which again makes the LB more likely.
After looking at many bird photos, many not illustrating wing spread, I’m guessing it’s an Eagle- perhaps snake eagle or tawny eagle?
Hello James, I think it is an African Hawk Eagle, juvenile. It could also be an Wahlberg’s Eagle, juvenile but a go for African Hawk Eagle, juvenile. I think it it was difficult.
Snake eagle? Maybe brown snake eagle?
subadult female pallid harrier
Black-chested Snake Eagle.
I’d go with black-chested snake eagle, given the barring on the wings and browny tinge to the body …
Black Chested Snake Eagle?
Hi James Immature Black-chested Snake Eagle.
Regards