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The Black-chested Buzzard-eagle


The Black-chested Buzzard-eagle
Photo Information
Copyright: Mircea Costina (mirceax) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 231 W: 56 N: 1354] (6247)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D50, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-27 16:12
Viewed: 1054
Points: 21
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi, friends!
I'm back after almost a month in the National Parc Torres del Paine, Patagonia, a spectacular place with fantastic wildlife. My first picture from this place is this eagle, with his prade.
The Black-chested Buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus[1]) is a bird of prey found in South America. It is the only member of the genus Geranoaetus. It belongs in the hawk and eagle family Accipitridae and is allied to the Buteo hawks.

With a length of 70-90 cm, it is quite a large eagle. The adult male has a white underside with fine blackish stripes. Upper parts are black with ash-grey-and-white zone on the wings, the silvery white seen clearly from afar. The female is distinguished by having reddish-cinnamon secondary upper and underwings and is larger than the male.

It is usually possible to make out the generally white underparts with the dark chest-band and tail but you are less likely to see its grey upperparts.

The Black-chested Buzzard-eagle is readily identified in flight by its short wedge-shaped tail scarcely protruding from its long, broad wings.

There are two subspecies: the nominate G. m. melanoleucos is found across southeastern South America from southern Brazil to northeastern Argentina, and is plain white below; G. m. australis occurs from Colombia and northwestern Venezuela south through the Andes to Tierra del Fuego, and in this race, the white abdomen is all-gray-barred.

It is found in mountainous or hilly terrain where it spends a lot of time soaring while looking for prey. This consists of mammals such as rabbits, some birds, snakes and carrion. It nests in high trees or on rocky cliffs.

http://en.wikipedia.org
joey, nglen, garyfudge, Ken52, Proframe, JPlumb, horia, Raptorman, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Mircea,

this is pretty spectacular!
Although your write-up is informative, I'd like to have known more about this actual shot.
What's it got? How did it get it? I'm guessing you were tracking and watching it for some time.

Gary

Hello Mircea
What a great flight shot,
Great focusing and lighting,
Perfect compo and BG,Superb shot,TFS

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 640 W: 98 N: 1241] (4189)
  • [2007-05-27 19:10]

A dramatic nature shot of this eagle with his bloody capture. Focus is excellent for action shot. Excellent exposure even the whites. Very nice composition.

Excellent wildlife action capture Mircea.
Beautiful pose of the bird taking of holding it's prey in one tallon.
Exposure is excellent with very nice details in the dark aswell as in the lighter colored feathers of the bird.
Composition is good altough a small crop from the left side would make it even stronger.
Just would like to have seen the bird with a little more sharpness. Kind regards, Harry

Hi Mircea, very nice capture of this Eagle with his prize. Very nice action composition.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3065 W: 231 N: 6160] (21048)
  • [2007-05-28 1:47]

What an amazing scene you have captured here, Mircea.
I have never seen this species of raptor before.
Your POV was exceptional in showing its distinctive markings.
That is a huge lunch he is taking off with him.
Very exciting,
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8623] (32138)
  • [2007-05-28 4:51]

Hi Mircea. good to see you back after your trip. great shot to come back with. amazing bird. great detail and timing on your part.good colours .The Eagel has nice markings which you have captured very well. very well done. TFs. great notes to.

PT

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2171 W: 218 N: 4383] (14900)
  • [2007-05-28 6:27]

Salut Mircea si bine ai revenit :)

Sunt foarte curios de ce ai adus inapoi de la asa un loc superb in materie de fotogragie!
Imi place foarte mult si prima ta poza. Vulturul arate splendid iar faptul ca are si prada in ghiare, acorda mult dramatism compozitiei.

Bravo si TFS
Horia

Hello Mircea , excellent , real wildlife photo , you show us how raptors really killing machines , TFS and good luck.

Hi Mircea,
I already saw this image and was a bit puzzled about the sharpness. Reading your note saying it was shot in Patagonia and thus displaying wildlife, I realized it was a special image...
The sharpness nit is still there somehow...
That said...a wonderful image!
TFS
Annick

Yes!!! Beautiful shot! I completely agree with garyfudge in that I would love to know more about how you got the picture. how close were you and how? Was the carcass left you or did the eagle actually catch it and did you find it eating it.
It's eating a fox, isn't it? Wow. Spectacular shot.

I totally agree with your impressions of TOrres del Paine. It's a beautiful national park.

Cheers!

Pablo.

Se le ve una excelente aerodinamica, me parece muy buena toma la que nos presentas. Enhorabuena y saludos desde A Coruņa
www.photo-b.net/Briones

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