Hi,
Would appreciate any advice on whether this is a black-shouldered kite? or other? the markings on the wing don't really match my ID book...??
[img]
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qz6_ke21EXwVxqCwSOttFvS-qLsKh5wx2jqfYNUv7Bk?feat=directlink [/img]
[img] http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cgYfr7AcdKCvtyCISJcj5_S-qLsKh5wx2jqfYNUv7Bk?feat=directlink
[/img]
trying the images again..
or maybe this time...
yay..and 2nd image...
[img]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rQyMYTwDaRE/TOswUvv2N8I/AAAAAAAAA2o/RxXO5AdgmgU/s144/kite1-1.JPG [/img]
The only other candidate is the Letter-winged Kite which has different underwing patterns.
Certainly a black-shouldered. The underside can vary a bit (most of the ones I see don't match my guide eitheR).
it's a male black shouldered kite,the black underwing varies quite a bit from bird to bird,and gets darker as he gets older,can darken during breeding in mature birds.
Kitegirl
I cannot see the images here. can you e-mail to
please
Sparrow, even without seeing them I'd be very interested how you know if it's a male or female? :)
Windhover The photos are showing here clear as a bell.
just a guess i've never see a female with that much black underwing.
HI Sparrow
There is no sexual dimorphism in Black-shouldered Kites. So the only way to tell is if you had a pair of adults side-by-side. The female would be larger than her mate. Markings on the wings really mean nothing here except telling one individual apart from another. :)