Jerdon's Baza Raptor Enigmatic

Jerdon's Baza (Aviceda Jerdoni)

Often seen in Kanha National Park and often confused with Crested Hawk Eagle these birds number less than the latter. I have seen it often but was able to photograph for first time and at the same time make a clip. The white chin and the mesial stripes are good identification features. The white tipped long crest is held erect most of the time. The rufus barrings in underbody and broad wings tapering down also help in identification. 

 

The distribution range in India is the terai region of North, the Eastern Himalayan foothills, some parts of Central India (Kanha) and Southern India in Western Ghats and scattered presence in Eastern Ghats.

This bird was photographed at Kanha in February - March. Its status is not known here whether it is a breeding resident or migratory. 
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I work as naturalist/birder at Kanha National Park in Central India.
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Birds of Kanha - Spot Bellied Eagle Owl

Jonathan & Emma UK
Guest Courtyard House Kanha
Date 20/4/2017

On recent visit to Kanha National Park we came around interesting birds. In summer time winter migrants are not seen leaving the sandpipers and black redstart which leave a little later.  But March onwards Kanha National Park in Central India is ideal for summer birding. In this period one can find some of the migratory bird species and as the summer increases and foliage reduces resident species are seen all over.  

Hence it is delightful experience to find summer residents some of which are hidden in the dense canopy or bush during the winters. The added advantage is that many water sources become redundant and birds conscribing to various niche habitats gather around the remaining water holes, stream and lakes. 

Many a discoveries are made during this period of avian that are not checklisted earlier at this tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. 

On this trip we came across Spot Bellied Eagle Owl perched high on a skeletal branch. In the initial stages the guide pronounced it as Brown Fish Owl but I was not convinced. Hence looking through the binoculars I could make out that it was Spot Bellied Eagle Owl without any doubt. An image has been taken of this species at the same time which I am expecting to be sent.               

Rufus Bellied Eagle at Kanha

Rufus Bellied Eagle at Kanha

Pete & Pam UK at Courtyard House

We saw this raptor hunting at Kanha National Park last year. We were fortunate to photograph this passage migrant again this year in February 2017.

Photo: Pete & Pam

  This raptor has been recorded probably for the first time at Kanha.