Appearance:

Variable plumage, but not as varied as Buzzard. Prominent black carpal patches and broad black terminal band on tail in all plumages. Upperparts dark and speckled, underparts pale. Head is paler than back, and base of bill paler still. Conspicuous white base of tail, and upperside of tail contrasts with the dark back. Female with big black belly patch, and one broad terminal band on tail. In males the belly patch this is less prominent, and the tail has 1-2 narrow bands in addition to the terminal one. Only other raptor with white tail and broad terminal band in the area is young Golden Eagles. These can be identified by size, and by showing 6 fingers, not 5 as in Buteo (Buzzards). Soars with slightly more raised wings than Buzzard.

Sound:

Most typical call a wailing, mewing "peeoooo". Quite similar to Buzzard, but the pitch falls more evenly throughout the whole call.

Alarm call:

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:Giovanni Boano, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Buzzard-sized eagle with long tail, slender build and white patches at base of wings. Occurs in pale and dark morph. Pale birds may be confused with much larger Egyptian Vulture, but note short. wedge-shaped tail of latter. Dark birds harder to identify, but differ from Marsh Harrier by flat, not raised wings, from Black Kite by round, not forked, tail and less arched wings. Buzzards have 5 (not 6) "fingers", shorter tail and more plump build. For separation from Bonelli's Eagle see that species.

Sound:

Very vocal in breeding season. Most often heard is a quite soft, wader-like series of "kli-kli-kli-kli-kli-kli".

Contact call:

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:Patrick Franke, Licence,Link.