Peewit 15/08/2014 11:30
Help with small raptor identification
Dear All,
I had the great pleasure of waking up this morning to find a beautiful bird of prey sitting in the tree outside my second floor flat window at Tai Wan San Tsuen, Lamma Island. I've been a birdwatcher all my life and have gained a good knowledge of HK's more common birds over the last 7 years I've lived here, but this is something a bit unusual (for me at least). In size I would put it a bit smaller than a Greater Coucal, which is the largest bird I've seen in that same tree for comparison. Based on the photos in my HK bird books it looks to my eye like a Besra (see photos on page 197 in the Society's A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Hong Kong) but bigger! Initial enquiries with Bonnie at HKBWS led to her tentatively suggesting Crested Goshawk as an alternative to the Besra (which seemed too small anyway), but she suggested I also post on here for further expert opinion.
I look forward to hearing from anyone with ideas.
Many thanks in advance,
Peewit
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Peewit 18/08/2014 11:41
Thanks to Ivan Tse for confirmation of Bonnie's ID. The Crested Goshawk is such a beautiful bird.
Happy birding,
Peewit