Yes, head (rather masked, blueish bill) is quite distinctive. Dark morph, looks like an adult, if the ‘smaller’ is an informed assessment, probably a male
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Wednesday, 6 January 2016 6:36 PM
To: 'Steve Read'; 'canberra birds'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Raptor i.d. please (Brindabellas)
Little Eagle is certainly correct. The shortish, fairly square and barred tail, the dark head markings make that clear. I don’t know if it can be determined to age. Young birds are reddish.
Philip
From: Steve Read
Sent: Wednesday, 6 January 2016 5:09 PM
To: 'canberra birds'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Raptor i.d. please (Brindabellas)
Assistance please with identification of a raptor seen by four observers this morning near Curries Road at Condor Creek in the Brindabellas (see Lach Read’s photographs below - let me know if they don’t make it through
the various e-filters and I’ll resend as attachments).
At the time we settled after some discussion on juvenile Little Eagle. However, we were worried that the bird appeared somewhat smaller than expected for that species. It was not possible to get a good view of the legs
to see if they were or were not feathered.
Thanks
Steve
