Dark Chanting Goshawk?

Gallery: AvianPosted June 8, 201398 views8 comments

I was told that this was a Juvenile Dark Chanting Goshawk, but I am not really sure, my myriad of ID books do not really help.
Taken in Kidepo National Park, Uganda

EOS 1D MkIV
500mm F4
F7.1
ISO 400
1/1000
hand-held from open vehicle

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on June 8, 2013 at 11:35 AM

Formidable looking bird and a great look at the eye. I love the BG here Ken but I think a tad more room would help if you had it.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on June 8, 2013 at 9:45 PM

Nice bird and shot.
Agree with Chuck, some more room specially on the left would be great.

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 9, 2013 at 2:23 AM

Charles and Jefferson,

Thanks very much for your kind comments and suggestions

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on June 9, 2013 at 8:36 AM

A very sleek looking hawk; not a feather out of place! Love the bg and the tiny purple flower. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on June 9, 2013 at 1:15 PM

No clue on the ID, Ken, but it's a nice shot and a very neat looking bird.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 10, 2013 at 2:51 AM

Sharon and Dennis,

Thanks very much for your kind comments

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on June 10, 2013 at 3:47 AM

Ken, I think your ID is correct. In my mountain of bird books I found an image of a juvenile with almost the exact markings and the same pose. Yet another example of a juvenile that only slightly resemles its adult form.
That said you've managed to catch it from a decent angle which makes for a really good image. Nice alert expression and a good pose on an unobtrusive perch.
The colours around the feet/perch look a bit strange on my monitor, perhaps a bit over saturated.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on June 10, 2013 at 3:54 AM

Martin,

Many thanks for that, Raptors have so many differing colourations that find it almost impossible to ID them, particularly those that are not normally seen in Southern Africa.
I must confess I did not really pay very much attention to the bottom of the image as it was quite messy to start with

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments