Praveen Siddannavar
10-12-2012, 08:49 AM
The Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) - Photographed this lovely lady yesterday at Hessarghatta, the last grassland left on the outskirts of North Bangalore. It was interesting to shoot some amazing ground level shots, while she was busy preening.
This is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu. This Harrier is a deceptively small raptor, though it appears larger because of its large wing surface compared to small body weight, which gives it a typically buoyant flight. The female is larger than the male; however this is not apparent in the field. Adult males are characterized by their overall pale grey plumage contrasting with black wingtips. Adult females are mostly pale yellow-brown, the belly with longitudinal stripes and the wing coverts spotted. The upper parts are uniform dark brown except for the white upper tail coverts ("rump"), and the slightly paler central wing coverts.
The diet consists mainly of small ground-living animals in areas of low or sparse vegetation. An important part is taken by small rodent’s small birds and large insects.
Camera - Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon f4 500mm lens
EXIF - ISO 200 Av 11 Tv 1/400 sec, EC - 0.3, Almost full frame
This is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu. This Harrier is a deceptively small raptor, though it appears larger because of its large wing surface compared to small body weight, which gives it a typically buoyant flight. The female is larger than the male; however this is not apparent in the field. Adult males are characterized by their overall pale grey plumage contrasting with black wingtips. Adult females are mostly pale yellow-brown, the belly with longitudinal stripes and the wing coverts spotted. The upper parts are uniform dark brown except for the white upper tail coverts ("rump"), and the slightly paler central wing coverts.
The diet consists mainly of small ground-living animals in areas of low or sparse vegetation. An important part is taken by small rodent’s small birds and large insects.
Camera - Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon f4 500mm lens
EXIF - ISO 200 Av 11 Tv 1/400 sec, EC - 0.3, Almost full frame