Talk:Little eagle
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Suggested new section
[edit]There isn't much in this article, so I am proposing for now this additional section. Material is taken from Simpson and Day and various images on MangoVerde:
Identification.
In flight, from underneath, the Little Eagle has a very distinctive whitish 'M' - shaped under-wing pattern. This pattern is very similar to that of the Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite and Square-tailed Kite, which are all also of a similar size. However, of the four, it is the only one that has a striped tail; and a small crest at the back of the head. The crest can generally only be seen when the bird is sitting at rest; in flight, the crest streamlines and is virtually invisible. The Black-breasted Buzzard has a similar crest but is otherwise of very different appearance.
In its first year, the plumage of the Little Eagle is relatively plain, becoming more streaked with age. By the second year, the coloring has changed into the adult form of either a Light or a Dark morph.
Old_Wombat (talk) 10:53, 26 December 2011 (UTC)
Hi Old wombat. I agree with your descriptions. I would add that the Little Eagle in comparison to the Whistling Kite, is 'tri-toned' - in the Light-phase bird, there is ginger/rufous colouration between the leading edge and the white of the 'M', and charcoal grey with black barring between the 'M' and the trailing edge. Whistling Kites have two basic colours, dark almost black charcoal grey, and tan. Dihedral is also revealing for the four other species you mention. Whistling Kites and Little Eagles both hold their wings fairly level, but Whistling kites twist their their wings more often, and there tends to be more droop. Square-tailed Kites and Black-breasted Buzzards soar with strong upsweep/dihedral.
On the Little Eagle page, as of Feb 4 2013, the picture of the perched bird is a Whistling Kite - an incorrect image. I'm trying to work out how to have it deleted. Little Eagles have feathers growing out right down to the talons: hence they are 'Booted Eagles' - you can see the flesh on the lower half of the Kite's leg. Also, Little Eagles have a bigger head in comparison to Whistling Kites. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Skyscanner12 (talk • contribs) 21:15, 3 March 2013 (UTC)