Help me identify this raptor from Japan

TanukiTanuki Registered Users Posts: 184 Major grins
edited May 13, 2007 in Wildlife
My wife took this picture in Jimmu-ji (about 1.5 hours south of Tokyo by train) and wants to know what it is. I know very little about birds, but I figure the "Nature & Wildlife" forum would be a good place to ask. Any thoughts?

Mike

Comments

  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited May 13, 2007
    I believe that is a black kite although the pic is dark I think the markings show it to be a kite. There is a great photographer here by the name of John Chapman. I remember seeing a pic of his from Japan of a very similar bird that he identified as a black kite in his gallery. That could be what you have. It's worth investigating.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • TanukiTanuki Registered Users Posts: 184 Major grins
    edited May 13, 2007
    Maestro wrote:
    I believe that is a black kite although the pic is dark I think the markings show it to be a kite. There is a great photographer here by the name of John Chapman. I remember seeing a pic of his from Japan of a very similar bird that he identified as a black kite in his gallery. That could be what you have. It's worth investigating.

    Thanks, but my wife said that there was no kid with a string, so it was clearly some kind of bird. rolleyes1.gif

    No, really... thanks for the help. I looked up black kite on Wikipedia and it looks pretty similar, but their picture is of a European black kite which might account for the differences.

    Hopefully John will be able to tell from this picture.


    Mike
Sign In or Register to comment.