Steppe Eagle!

[Praveen Siddannavar]

This is one of the shots that I had got near Hessarghatta on the outskirts of Bangalore...


Camera Model Canon EOS 40D, 100-400mm
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/800
Av( Aperture Value ) 8
ISO 400
Focal length 400mm
Hand held

[Bibhav Behera]

The composition is nice. Moving a bit more to your right would have helped hide the pillar behind the bird. I would like to see more details in the body. Thanks for sharing.

[AB Apana]

This could be A.rapax as the distribution in Kazmierczak and in Rasmussen and Anderton do not show nipalensis in the South. Still further, the gape in nipalensis extends to the back of the eye, while in rapax it extends to the rear of the eye. I will however check Naoroji for the distribution and revert later.

By the way, nice, but a natural perch is always preferred.

Apana

[Mrudul Godbole]

Nice pose. A vertical composition would look good too. Thanks for sharing.

[AB Apana]

Naoroji says that Steppe is a rare winter visitor to the Bangalore region. The gape, to my mind, does not extend as far back as it should.

Apana

[Jitendra Katre]

nice image,i think this IS steppe, in my understanding, in steppe eagles the gape extends beyond pupil,otherwise they are similar to tawny.

[Praveen Siddannavar]

Thank you all for the comments, I have checked with few other experts and they confirm it is Steppe. However there has been lot of debate if this is Tawny. or Steppe

Apana - This was shot during the winter that is on 12th Dec'09...

[Sabyasachi Patra]

I checked the Rasmussen and the other difference is that aquila nipalensis or Steppe is larger than A. rapax.