Bird Identification

**Peter Connan** · 2012/06/20, 09:22 AM

I suspect my good-for-nothing excuse for a dog killed this. I found it in my garden yesterday evening when I got home.

Can anybody tell me what it was (or would have become)? It's about 80-100mm from tip of beak to tail, so probably a medium-sized bird?

By voorbaat dankie.

**TimJ** · 2012/06/21, 11:22 AM

Looks very much like a juvenile dove (called a squab) to me - possibly Red-eye dove.

**Peter Connan** · 2012/06/21, 11:36 AM

Thanks Tim

**Peter Connan** · 2012/10/15, 12:21 PM

Need some help again please?

Both were seen at Rietvlei last weekend.

**SimonB** · 2012/10/15, 12:46 PM

Eclipse Red Bishop and female weaver (Possibly Cape)

**Peter Connan** · 2012/10/15, 03:45 PM

Thanks Simon

That second bird is really small, perhaps the size of a waxbil?

**SimonB** · 2012/10/15, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Peter Connan

Thanks Simon

That second bird is really small, perhaps the size of a waxbil?

Ah. Size matters

. Possibly a juvenile cape canary?

**Peter Connan** · 2012/10/16, 07:04 AM

Thanks Simon

**caranx36** · 2012/10/25, 06:01 PM

Immature raptor taken in Kgalagadi.

'expert' at the waterhole reckoned that it was a mature Tawny

which I did not buy for a moment.

Immature Bateleur ?

Sorry for poor quality was almost dark and the Sigma 150-500 prefers lots of light

Cheers

Rob

**Plod** · 2012/10/25, 06:09 PM

Hi Rob. Can't see the tail in the photo. The Bateleur juvie has a very short tail.

**caranx36** · 2012/10/25, 06:12 PM

Do have this one as he/she flew away but not a great pic

Not sure if this helps

The wing shape looks like a Bateleur to me

**Gerrie_Horn** · 2012/10/25, 06:12 PM

Yes immature Bateleur.
Gerrie

**caranx36** · 2012/10/25, 06:16 PM

Thanks for confirming

Cheers

Rob

**Plod** · 2012/10/25, 06:18 PM

Think so too. Tail is the right size.

**Albie Connan** · 2012/11/05, 03:36 PM

Hi, guys, please help. I think this a steppe eagle. I shot it in Pilanesberg 3 weeks ago. There were 2 of them sitting at a termite mound.

**j-ms** · 2012/11/05, 03:54 PM

The only bird it could be confused with is a Tawny Eagle. Even without any view of the gape, I would agree that this is a Steppe Eagle based on the dark eye (vs tawny eye in the Tawny) and uniform brown feather colouration (vs streaky brown in the Tawny). In any case, the form most common in SA ("orientalis") does not have a particularly large gape.

**Albie Connan** · 2012/11/05, 05:24 PM

Thanks very much, j-ms, Albie

**RobH** · 2012/11/06, 01:05 PM

This got me very excited. Spotted in my garden in Durban last evening.

Let's have your opinions.

**SimonB** · 2012/11/06, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by RobH

This got me very excited. Spotted in my garden in Durban last evening.

Let's have your opinions.

European Turtle Dove

Hope you're reporting it to the rarities comm.

**RobH** · 2012/11/06, 01:15 PM

Spot on (and very quick to boot).

I did, but unfortunately they are of the opinion it is an escapee. Which is a pity, as it would have been the 10th record, or thereabouts, ever in Southern Africa.

I have been asked to monitor it, if possible.