Raptors Australia (1 Viewer)

[Greg McKay]

I have attached 5 photos of raptors I have taken around Bendigo in central Victoria. I find them hard to tell apart being new to birding but think I may have them Identified. Can someone confirm or correct my thoughts on what these birds are. I think I have photographed an Australian Hobby, Brown Falcon, Brown Harrier,Little eagle and Peregrine Falcon.

 

[Tom Tarrant]

I have attached 5 photos of raptors I have taken around Bendigo in central Victoria. I find them hard to tell apart being new to birding but think I may have them Identified. Can someone confirm or correct my thoughts on what these birds are. I think I have photographed an Australian Hobby, Brown Falcon, Brown Harrier,Little eagle and Peregrine Falcon.

Hi Greg,

Agree with all but #3 is a Spotted Harrier, #4 is a Whistling Kite

Tom

 

[Chris Benesh]

I have attached 5 photos of raptors I have taken around Bendigo in central Victoria. I find them hard to tell apart being new to birding but think I may have them Identified. Can someone confirm or correct my thoughts on what these birds are. I think I have photographed an Australian Hobby, Brown Falcon, Brown Harrier,Little eagle and Peregrine Falcon.

Hi Greg,

Some great pix! A very respectable showing on the identification front since Australian raptors can be quite tricky. I would say that your harrier is a Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis and that the 'Little Eagle' is a Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus. The others look correct to me. The Harrier is told by the strongly barred tail, dark trailing edge to the wing, lack on an obvious pale rump patch, and grayish tones to most of upperwing, but with warm buffy tones to face and leading edge of the inner wing (arm). The Whistling Kite is best told by its plain faced look, and rather long, plain colored tail. Little Eagles have dark looking cheeks and a shorter tail with some barring.

Chris

I see Tom beat me to the punch line. What he said!

 

[Greg McKay]

Is swamp harrier ruled out

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Hi Greg,

Some great pix! A very respectable showing on the identification front since Australian raptors can be quite tricky. I would say that your harrier is a Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis and that the 'Little Eagle' is a Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus. The others look correct to me. The Harrier is told by the strongly barred tail, dark trailing edge to the wing, lack on an obvious pale rump patch, and grayish tones to most of upperwing, but with warm buffy tones to face and leading edge of the inner wing (arm). The Whistling Kite is best told by its plain faced look, and rather long, plain colored tail. Little Eagles have dark looking cheeks and a shorter tail with some barring.

Chris

I see Tom beat me to the punch line. What he said!

Thanks Tom and Chris for your replies. I have studied my field guide and agree with the Kite. Can you comment on the Harrier after studying my guide a swamp harrier needs to be ruled out. I will also submit a photo of what I believe to be a little eagle in flight showing a distinct underneath wing pattern that I as a novice makes it a little eagle.

 

[Greg McKay]

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Thanks Tom and Chris for your replies. I have studied my field guide and agree with the Kite. Can you comment on the Harrier after studying my guide a swamp harrier needs to be ruled out. I will also submit a photo of what I believe to be a little eagle in flight showing a distinct underneath wing pattern that I as a novice makes it a little eagle.

Photos now attached

 

[Chris Benesh]

Thanks Tom and Chris for your replies. I have studied my field guide and agree with the Kite. Can you comment on the Harrier after studying my guide a swamp harrier needs to be ruled out. I will also submit a photo of what I believe to be a little eagle in flight showing a distinct underneath wing pattern that I as a novice makes it a little eagle.

Hi Greg,

I've attached a blow-up of your harrier with some pointers to some of the various fieldmarks that help separate these confusing harriers. Also note the lack of contrast between the inner wing and the outer wing. The inner wing of a Swamp Harrier is darker than the outer. I always found the raptor plates in the various Australia guides to be wanting. Which guide are you referencing? A nice one for raptor enthusiasts is Stephen Debus', The Birds of Prey of Australia. The illustrations are the best raptor ones I've seen.

Here are a couple of other examples of Spotted Harrier:
http://www.abberton.org/2004files/october2004/spottedharrier04101409red.jpg
http://www.aviceda.org/abid/images/data/1147848547.jpg
http://www.aviceda.org/abid/images/data/1065590419.jpg


Your attached flight shot in post #5 is indeed a Little Eagle. The adjacent picture is of a Brown Falcon, showing long wings, banded tail, and a distinctive dark thigh patch.

Chris

 

[Greg McKay]

Thanks Chris
Iam using Michael Morcombes Field guide to Australian birds. When I get the chance I will have a look at the books you have recommended.

 

[Greg McKay]

[
Chris
One more raptor for you to help me with if you can. I believe this may be a Nankeen Kestrel what are your thoughts