We’re almost out of photos, so I implore readers to send in their good wildlife snaps. Thanks!
We continue today with part 3 of Ephraim Heller’s safari in Tanzania (part 1 is here and part 2 here). Today we have raptors:
Brief introduction: These photos were taken on safari in Tanzania in April 2025. Most are from the Serengeti National Park with a few from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This batch of photos focuses on raptors.
Pale chanting goshawk with a yummy rodent:
Black-shouldered kite with dinner:
This tawny eagle strayed too close to the nest of this black-shouldered kite, who made clear that he is not welcome by attacking the eagle’s eyes:
Common kestrals and lesser kestrels share a roosting tree as evening falls:
A pair of common kestrels.
Marsh owl. About a dozen individuals gathered on the ground at dusk, which was unusual:
Verreaux’s or giant eagle-owl juvenile begging for food from his parents who are in a nearby tree:
Love these!
Raptors are among my favorite birds and these are fabulous. Amazing you caught the kite going after the eagle. Long ago I read an absolutely superb book on raptors, The Peregrine by J. A. Baker, and have been fascinated by them ever since. Thanks.
Wonderful.
Anyone know why some owls are called “eagle-owls”? I did a bit of googling but could find no answer. Is it only because of their large size? Or do they share some other features with eagles? Or are they phylogenically really situated between the eagles and the owls?
And while I’m at it … I’ve often wondered, if biologists/palaeontologists had only fossil remains of the modern domestic dog(s) to go on, from Dobermann to Chihuahua et al., would they attribute them all to one species?
I think that it is their size. I once saw a pair of eagle owls in Kenya, perched in a tree. They were as large as the largest eagles. Unfortunately they were so shaded by the tree that my attempt at a photograph was useless.
Great pics, especially the Kite and the Eagle, wow. And I’d not heard of the book The Peregrine, I’ll have to check it out. I happen to volunteer at a nearby wildlife center, and one of the raptors I care for is a Peregrine, a magnificent bird. Interesting fact: the Peregrine’s closest relative is the parrot, and they share 88% of their DNA. This was only discovered in recent years, as DNA analysis and datasets improved. Biologists were amazed.
Hmm, not sure about the Peregrine’s closest relative being the parrot. Surely the other falcons would be closer relatives. And the parrots belong to the Psittaciformes. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the Falconiformes are most closely related to the Psittaciformes, or maybe the Psittacopasseres? Any biologists here who could clarify?
Nope, I’ve read (and heard of) this issue for a few years now. I agree it’s odd, and yes parrots are Psittaciformes and Falcons are Falconiforms, but they come from the same tree. Here are a few links:
https://www.birdnote.org/explore/field-notes/2015/02/parrots-and-falcons-long-lost-cousins
https://discoverwildscience.com/falcons-parrots-and-songbirds-a-closer-evolutionary-bond-than-youd-expect-1-298039/
(This next link requires a subscription, but the citation and the diagram on the opening page shows the evolutionary link.):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352715452_The_use_of_a_phylogenetic_classification_in_the_London_Bird_Report_Lond_Bird_Rep_82_198-200
But this does not support your statement that “the Peregrine’s closest relative is the parrot.”
That is very different than saying than the falcons have been found to be more closely related to the parrots (actually, to the Psittacopasseres, which include the Psittaciformes [parrots] and the Passeriformes [songbirds]) than to the hawks and eagles.
Any proper biologist care to chime in?
Jared, you are absolutely right. Of course the closest relatives of the Peregrine are other falcons, and then a little farther way are the caracaras. Parrots as a group, along with the perching birds (song birds”)(Passeriformes). are now thought to be the most closely related families to falcons + caracaras as a group, as you wrote. So it is not even correct to say that the closest relative of the falcon family is the parrot family. The songbirds are just as closely related to falcons as the parrots are.
The most surprising thing is that hawks and Eagles are not as closely related to falcons, even though they look so similar.
Wow, all great, especially amazing picture of the kite and eagle!
Yes, fantastic picture!
Raptors always have a serious look on their faces. Do they ever lighten up?
Nice pictures!
Can hardly believe that you got a Goshawk, Falcon, and the Owls–all very difficult birds to capture “on film”. Thanks for sharing.
Very nice! Thanks.
Lovely!
OMG, those owls are just awe-inspiring, and all of these birds are great. Thank you!