pics taken at Albany, WA on 13/3/13
I am thinking a young Swamp Harrier but happy to be corrected
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I have my doubts but I'm no expert (and probably wrong because looking at them compared there are a lot of similarities). The general underwing pattern looks right but at what age do they really develop their "fingers"? This has 4 and the pic I'm attaching of an obviously adult Swampy has 5 well developed fingers. I'm leaning towards a Brown Falcon because of that plus the whitish bit on the throat. I'd love to say a Black but that's completely out of their range.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
thanks Wendy
let's see if we get any other comments
Peter
Looks good for Swamp Harrier to me. The white patch is odd, perhaps some kind of plumage abberation. If it was a Brown Falcon, I think there would be some fine barring visible in the lighter parts of the wing.
They should all pop out like little adults. This juvenile feathering lark has nobs on it and is a deliberate attempt to confuse us. It's working.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
Interesting, thanks for posting these.
I think I agree with a Swamp Harrier, and maybe one that's transitioning from Juv to Adult plumage... I find his dark little face odd, but Juv Swamp Harrier is my best guess...
The other thing that would help if you remember is info re its behaviour and surrrounding habitat.
Thanks for the challenge!
Cheers, Scott.
my first look, to me it's a brown falcon just the shape of it.
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
I beg to differ... No one has suggested Black-breasted Buzzard? Notice the tail is way to small for a harrier or even a falcon. Usually a large raptor like a buzzard would have widely fingered wings, but we can assume that your bird is in a casual glide... However I do not know the size of your bird, so I am willing to accept Swamp Harrier.
Brandon (aka ihewman)
an interesting observation about the tail, it would be out of area for a Bb B
Peter
I have Stephen Debus's new book, 'Birds of Prey of Australia : A Field Guide 2nd edition', & the bird at the top here is a very good match for the photo of juvenile Swamp Harrier in the book, & doesn't look like any of the Black-breasted Buzzard photos in the book. In my opinion, no doubts this is a Swamp Harrier.
I'd say juvenile Swamp Harrier. The falcons don't have the distinct primaries as the hawks.
Do you have another shot? If you can see the rump and it's WHITE then Swamp Harrier is the undoubted ID, as that's the only BOP in Oz with a white patch on its rump. But, overall, I agree with the juvenile Swampie.
The buzzards have clearly visible white patches at the base of their primaries.