Table of Contents
Preface 9
Acknowledgements 11
Introduction 13
Flight identification of raptors 13
Plumage variation in raptors 13
Viewing conditions 13
Moult 14
Factors affecting flight 18
Previous experience 18
Topography 19
Glossary 22
Hawk-Watching in and Around Europe Keith L. Bildstein Anna Sandor 25
Migration Ecology of Raptors Ian Newton 36
Species Accounts 49
Osprey Pandion haliaetus 49
European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus 56
Crested Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus 67
Identification of hybrid honey-buzzards 77
Identification of Milvus kites 81
Black Kite Milvus migrans 81
Western Black Kite Milvus migrans migrans 82
Black-eared Kite Milvus migrans lineatus 91
'Eastern Black Kite' - Identifying hybrids and intergrades between Western Black Kite and Black-eared Kite 95
Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius 99
Reel Kite Milvus milvus 107
Identifying hybrids between Black Kite and Red Kite 114
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus eaeruleus 115
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficalus 119
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 121
Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus 131
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 135
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 138
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus 143
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus 153
Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus 157
Rüppell's Griffon Vulture Gyps rueppellii 166
African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus 174
Himalayan Griffon Vulture Gyps himalayensis 179
Bearded Vulture Gypaelus barbatus 184
Black Vulture Aegypius monachus 192
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos traeheliolos 199
Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaelus gallicus 206
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudaius 215
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus 222
How to separate Black Kite, Marsh Harrier and dark morph Booted Eagle 232
Identification of 'ringtail' harriers 233
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 234
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius 242
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus 246
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 254
Identification of hybrid harriers 267
Identification of Acripiter hawks 270
Northern Goshawk Acripiter gentilis 270
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Acripiter nisus 275
Levant Sparrowhawk Acripiter brevipes 282
Shikra Acripiter badius 287
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates 293
Gabar Goshawk Micronisvs gabar 297
Separating Common Buzzard and European Honey-buzzard 302
Identification of Buteo buzzards 302
Identification of Buteo hybrids 303
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo 304
Steppe Buzzard Buleo buteo vulpinus 315
Eastern Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus rufinus 327
Atlas Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis 335
Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus 343
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 352
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca 359
Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti 370
Separating Steppe Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle 373
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 373
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 388
Separating Greater Spotted Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle 395
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga 395
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina 409
Identification of hybrid spotted eagles 418
Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii 421
Bonelli's Eagle Aquila fasciata 425
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 432
Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi 442
Differences in flight proportions between juvenile and adult falcons 445
Identification of kestrels 445
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 446
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 455
American Kestrel Falco sparverius 464
Identification of small, hobby-like falcons 467
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus 467
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis 475
Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 481
Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae 489
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor 498
Merlin Falco columbarius 503
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus 509
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug 514
Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus 519
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 526
Barbary Falcon Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides 535
References 540
Index 542
