Now on ScienceBlogs: Father and Mother and Uncle John...: Tribalism and a Place at the Table
"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." -- Eden Phillpotts.
GrrlScientist is a colorful parrot who writes by typing with her beak. She's also an evolutionary biologist and a proud member of the vast left-wing conspiracy that your mother warned you about.
Online interviews with GrrlScientist: Kolibri Expeditions, ScienceOnline09, Nature Blog Network and ScienceBlogs. More biographical information about GrrlScientist.
Follow GrrlScientist:
GrrlScientist's banner was designed by graphic artist, Jeff Hebert, whose other work can be viewed at his site, Hero Machine.
|
|
Nominate your science, nature or medical writing to Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the Public) blog carnival using the widget above or send the link directly to Scientia Blog Carnival.
« A Flowchart to Determine What Religion You Should Follow | Main | Birdbooker Report 89 »
Topic Categories: Birding • Education • Mystery Birds • Photography • Teaching • Travel
Posted on: October 25, 2009 9:59 AM, by "GrrlScientist"
tags: Juvenile Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Juvenile Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus, photographed in Nakuru National Park, Kenya, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 29 July 2006 [larger view].
Nikon D2X, 200-400 VR lens at 200. ISO 200, 1/2000, f 5.6.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Find more posts in: 
Life Science
Education
Share this: Facebook Twitter Stumbleupon Reddit Email + More
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/123171
Greg Laden 02.08.2010
PZ Myers 02.08.2010
Tim Lambert 02.06.2010
PZ Myers 02.08.2010
Ed Brayton 02.09.2010
Comments
Spotted eagle owl? Suggestion of 'ear' tufts, barred tail.
Posted by: Richard Simons | October 25, 2009 11:15 AM
I like your choice Richard, certainly an eagle owl, but I'm going to go with the Greyish Eagle Owl, Bubo cinerascens because I don't want to copy you (!) and the only real differnce between B. cinerascens and B. africanus is in the eye color and facial disk (neither of which are shown here!)...
my get out of course is that some authorities call mine Bubo africanus cinerascens as the northern subspecies of Spotted Eagle-Owl more commonly found in northern Kenya and Uganda, and since Nakuru is in the Rift Valley province, I'm hedging my bets!
Posted by: David | October 25, 2009 1:39 PM
okay, you both are placing your IDs in the wrong family. this is diurnal bird and it is in heavy moult, so you have a smorgasbord of plumages that are you are seeing all on this one bird. that should help you think about the age of this bird. (besides, do those wings REALLY look like an owl's?) i'll give you another hint tonight if you're still mystified.
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | October 25, 2009 1:56 PM
OK, substituting the perception of ears for a crest, I'm going with a Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus, perhaps a female because she is more blotchy above or a male less than 7 years old...
Posted by: David | October 25, 2009 2:10 PM
I'm going with Ayres's Hawk Eagle, Hieraatus ayresii. Martial Eagle should show 7 slotted primaries -- this bird clearly shows 6. Any of the Buteos should show 5. Wahlberg's and Black Eagles show unbarred tails. Tawny Eagle has 7 slotted primaries.
African Hawk Eagle, H. spilogaster should show obvious paler outer primaries, even in molt like this.
Posted by: psweet | October 25, 2009 9:20 PM
Okay, I may be completely off-base... but I actually do live in Africa and have seen them many times... and okay this looks remarkably like a fish-eagle to me, taken from above and behind will hide the characteristic yellow beak and white chest so I can't be sure, but the shape of the wings is a big hint.
The lack of anything to judge size makes it much more difficult, I was tempted at the white-cross eagle but it's not dark enough I think (though you did say it's in malt).
Either way, I think my guess is as good as any, so I'll stick to fisheagle unless you give us another hint :P
Posted by: A.J Venter | October 26, 2009 7:59 AM
one more hint that should help you get a better idea of the bird's size: this bird was in hot pursuit of a guinea fowl.
Posted by: "GrrlScientist" | October 26, 2009 8:51 AM
So I go away for a few days and come back to this. I'm going with juvenile, moulting to immature, Verreaux's Eagle (possibly female). The reason? rusty brown feathers replacing barred juvenile plumage and white tips to unmoulted coverts. I know I'm 100% incorrect but the best I can do on this one.
Posted by: Adrian | October 27, 2009 9:15 AM