Species:

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)

Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

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Length (cm):
65-72
27-29
Wingspan (cm):
155-182
44-49
Weight (gram):
1600-3000
44-78
Size group:
Bigger than a crow
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Medium sized eagle with long, evenly broad wings and relatively short tail. Easily confused with Lesser Spotted Eagle, Clanga pomarina. Flight feathers usually paler than the dark coverts, and head and body same colour as wings. Only diffuse pale patch at base of primaries on upper wing (marked in C. pomarina). Pale base of primaries shows as "comma", but usually lacks pale base of under primary coverts, contrary to C. pomarina. Broader wings than C. pomarina, and the squarish wing-shape, short neck and tail recalls White-tailed Eagle (H. albicilla). U-shaped white patch at base of tail. Immature birds even darker than adults, and show white spots along upper wing coverts in two narrow bands. Very long "fingers" overall, and elongated 7th primary. Soars and glides on horizontal wings with drooping hand (as C. pomarina). Bill obviously heavier than C. pomarina, and yellow base and gular region stands out. Round nostrils.

Sound:

Vocal at breeding ground, and when courting. Short, barking, high-pitched whistles, not unlike a small dog. Slightly lower pitched than C. pomarina and with a fuller tone, but very similar.

Call:

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See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:David Farrow, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Ronald Bontrop, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Paul Schrijvershof, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:CharlesLam, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Ronald Bontrop, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Bart Moons, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Unmistakable if seen well. Stunning, bright yellow throat and turquoise underparts. Upperside of wings multicoloured with noticeable light buff shoulders, as opposed to other Bee-eaters in the region. In flight the underwing shows a black trailing edge, which on the secondaries becomes broader closer to the body . Often flies high and then reveals itself only by its flight call.

Sound:

Quite vocal in all activities. Call a short and soft "pju" often quickly repeated forming multi-syllabic, rolling phrases.

Contact call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Lars Lachmann, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Raptors
Silhouette
Thrush-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file