Species:

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)

Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

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Length (cm):
65-72
16-16
Wingspan (cm):
155-182
23-26
Weight (gram):
1600-3000
17-24
Size group:
Bigger than a crow
Sparrow-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:

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: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:

Very similar to Thrush Nightingale. Anonymous, indistinct plumage and secretive behaviour makes it an easily overlooked bird (except when singing). Tail rufous brown, upperparts warm brown. Underparts buff and white. Throat without streaking. Tail more rufous, and contrasts less with the warm brown back, than in Thrush Nightingale. Overall a more smooth and clean appearance. Thrush-like behaviour despite the small size, with jumping gait, erect posture, raised tail and drooping wings.

Sound:

Alarm call either a thin, flycatcher-like "weeet", or a Chiff-chaff-like "piuu". Also a characteristic (but similar to Thrush Nighitingale) dry, rattling, frog-like "rrrrr". The song is the best characteristic to separate it from T. Nightingale. It consists of extremely resonant, full-bodied notes and lacks the, dry, rolling, rattling sounds of T.N. Most distinct species specific sound is the interwoven series of slightly ascending, plaintive notes (0.04 - 0.10 in recording). May mimic Thrush Nightningale!

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

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

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