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Tawny Eagle


Tawny Eagle
Photo Information
Copyright: Robin Du Bois (robindb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 96 W: 0 N: 275] (965)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-03
Categories: Birds
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 170-500mm APO
Exposure: f/8, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-20 23:27
Viewed: 481
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A light coulored tawny eagle. The lighter parts on this one are almost white although the wings are fairly dark.

The Tawny Eagle, Aquila rapax, is a large bird of prey. It is about 62–72 cm in length and has a wingspan of 165–185cm. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. It was once considered to be closely related to the migratory Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis, and the two forms have previously been treated as conspecific. They were split based on pronounced differences in morphology and anatomy molecular analysis indicates that these birds are not even each other's closest relatives.
It breeds in most of Africa both north and south of the Sahara Desert and across tropical southwestern Asia to India. It is a resident breeder which lays 1–3 eggs in a stick nest in a tree, crag or on the ground.
Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah.
This is a large eagle with tawny upperparts and blackish flight feathers and tail. The lower back is very pale. This species is smaller and paler than the Steppe Eagle, although it does not share that species' pale throat.
Immature birds are less contrasted than adults, but both show a range of variation in plumage colour.
The Tawny Eagle's diet is largely fresh carrion of all kinds, but it will kill small mammals up to the size of a rabbit, reptiles and birds up to the size of guineafowl. It will also steal food from other raptors.
The call of the Tawny Eagle is a crow-like barking, but it is rather a silent bird except in display.
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Critiques [Translate]

Now this is a tawny eagle! a very nice portrait, again well lit and from a good POV and with a nicely blurred background complementary. the feathered tarsus and powerful talons are shown nicely here. This is a very pale individual but, as you state, they are very variable. A very fine photograph - maybe you could describe how you achieved it?
Regards, Nigel.

Hello Robin,
Wonderful moment to photograph a Tawny Eagle so close. Very good sharpness, details and natural colours. Maybe a littlebit more contrast is possible. Great composition, BG and POV.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 457 W: 0 N: 488] (2385)
  • [2008-07-21 5:38]

Hi Robin
very nice composition and color
well done.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3464 W: 145 N: 5942] (17790)
  • [2008-07-22 14:51]

Hello Robin
What an unusually coloured bird - I love his red-brown feathers. He must camouflage well in the SA landscape.
Good shot of it, it is standing there so comfortable on his one leg. I do like his profile - very regal-like
TFS
Janice

Hello Robin,
What an opportunity..
The point of view is eye level. Great perch and background.
Nicely done compo. Proud posture. Finally a beautiful catch light in its eye.
Bird morphology is really difficult apparently, even with these big birds of prey. Good Tawny eagle portrait!
TFS
Annick

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