Bird Identification

[Richprins]

You can try, Lis!

[Lisbeth]

[Lisbeth]

1. Gabar Goshawk (juv.)...eye colour is wrong

2. Common buzzard

3.

4. White-browed Sparrow weaver

[ExFmem]

Thank you Sis

I don't see Common Buzzard listed in our Bird Checklist of the Kgalagadi, so would it be a brand new entry, or am I overlooking something?

I bookmarked the site you suggested - looks like a good reference.

Anybody else care to try on the remaining two in question, PLEASE

[Lisbeth]

I think that it is the same as Steppe Buzzard.

Scientific name: Buteo buteo

[Richprins]

Her reply from Chris!




Hi Richprins.


The 3 raptors are all immature birds… and these alternate plumages are usually vastly different to the adult birds and for a significant portion of the birds lives’.



The first is an immature Gabar Goshawk – see this example from the internet…

It’s interesting because usually the immature GGs have yellow eyes like this https://www.google.com/imgres?q=immatur ... M3oECGYQAA



But the adult birds have dark eyes like this: https://www.google.com/imgres?q=gabar%2 ... M3oECB0QAA

And about 10% of Gabar Goshawks are melanistic like this: https://www.google.com/imgres?q=melanis ... M3oECBcQAA



So, I suspect your member’s bird is transitioning into adulthood and the yellow eye is moving darkening – first to red and ultimately to dark.



The second bird is an immature Pale Chanting Goshawk – here are multiple examples https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=7 ... sid=mosaic



The third is an immature Black-chested Snake Eagle: https://www.google.com/imgres?q=immatur ... M3oECGQQAA



The fourth a White-browed Sparrow-Weaver: https://ebird.org/species/wbswea1



Regards



Chris

[Lisbeth]

2. The posture should have told me that it was a PCG

3. Was difficult

4. was easy.

At least I got the first one right

[Richprins]

Not bad, Lis!

[Lisbeth]

Too kind

[ExFmem]

Thanks again for the help ExF- 0% ; Sis-50%