Accipitridae

Birds of prey. Boasts some of the most glamorous big birds among its members.

Shikra

Shikra,

Himalayan Vulture

Four Griffon vultures sat on the ridge of a small hill by the side of the road on the way to Hanle village.

Vulture,Four Griffon vultures sat on the ridge of a small hill by the side of the road on the way to Hanle village.

Grey-Headed Fish- Eagle

Grey-headed Fishing Eagle at Kanha National Park.

Eagle,Grey-headed Fishing Eagle at Kanha National Park.

Booted Eagle (Pale Morph)

Eagle,

Himalayan Vulture

Vultures belonging to three separate species - Himalayan, Red-headed & Egyptian - converge on a spotted deer carcass, presumably killed by a tiger the previous night, in Corbett National Park.

Vulture,Vultures belonging to three separate species - Himalayan, Red-headed & Egyptian - converge on a spotted deer carcass, presumably killed by a tiger the previous night, in Corbett National Park.

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Short-toed Snake Eagle flying over my uncle's farm near Mysore.

Eagle,Short-toed Snake Eagle flying over my uncle's farm near Mysore.

Indian Vulture

Indian Vulture (formerly known as the long-billed vulture) on a tree top at the entrance of the Bandhavgarh national park. Once a regular sight everywhere in India this species has been all but wiped out through the use of the banned Diclofenac in veterinary treatment of cattle. Has been classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by IUCN.

Vulture,Indian Vulture (formerly known as the long-billed vulture) on a tree top at the entrance of the Bandhavgarh national park. Once a regular sight everywhere in India this species has been all but wiped out through the use of the banned Diclofenac in veterinary treatment of cattle. Has been classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by IUCN.

Crested Goshawk

Goshawk,

White-bellied Sea Eagle (In flight)

As they made repeated trips from their nest to the sea, I got to photograph them in flight almost at eye level.

Sea Eagle,As they made repeated trips from their nest to the sea, I got to photograph them in flight almost at eye level.

Besra

Besra near the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary.

Besra,Besra near the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary.

Pallas's Fish Eagle

Fish Eagle,

Black-shouldered Kite

Kite,

Hooded Vulture

Yet another old-world vulture. This one was waiting for a hyena to finish his mail so that it could then clean up the scraps.

Vulture,Yet another old-world vulture. This one was waiting for a hyena to finish his mail so that it could then clean up the scraps.

Roadside Hawk

Hawk,

Greater Spotted Eagle

Greater spotted Eagle flying high over the Mangroves in Mumbai.

Eagle,Greater spotted Eagle flying high over the Mangroves in Mumbai.

Cinereous Vulture

Vulture,

White-eyed Buzzard

Buzzard,

Grey-Headed Fish- Eagle

Eagle,

Shikra (juvenile)

A juvenile Shikra

Shikra,A juvenile Shikra

Oriental Honey Buzzard (Female)

This female, possibly looking for prey, perched on the top of a mango tree on a clear monsoon morning

Honey Buzzard,This female, possibly looking for prey, perched on the top of a mango tree on a clear monsoon morning

Plumbeous Kite

Kite,

Egyptian Vulture (Adult)

Vulture,

Brahminy Kite (Adult)

Kite,

Upland Buzzard

Buzzard,

Black Kite

Scavenging raptor that has become a regular feature in Indian cities.

Kite,Scavenging raptor that has become a regular feature in Indian cities.

Himalayan Vulture (In flight)

This was part of a large flock -or is it a kettle - of vultures that was circling the skies over Phobjikha grasslands, displaying their awe-inspiring wingspans. The numbers indicated that this was a very healthy ecosystem.

Vulture,This was part of a large flock -or is it a kettle - of vultures that was circling the skies over Phobjikha grasslands, displaying their awe-inspiring wingspans. The numbers indicated that this was a very healthy ecosystem.

Egyptian Vulture (in flight)

Egyptian Vulture flying over the granite rocks of Ramanagara. Shot from our farm.

Vulture,Egyptian Vulture flying over the granite rocks of Ramanagara. Shot from our farm.

African Fish Eagle

Eagle,

Common Buzzard

Buzzard,

Crested Serpent Eagle

Crested Serpent Eagle in Bandipur.

Eagle,Crested Serpent Eagle in Bandipur.

Greater Spotted Eagle (Adult)

Eagle,

Eurasian Marsh Harrier (♀)

Harrier,

Greater Spotted Eagle (Juvenile)

Eagle,

Black-shouldered Kite (Flight)

Kite,

Crested or Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Hawk-Eagle,

Long-legged Buzzard

A Long-legged Buzzard surveying its options for the next hunt from the river bank.

Buzzard,A Long-legged Buzzard surveying its options for the next hunt from the river bank.

Montagu's Harrier

Harrier,

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Goshawk,

Egyptian Vulture (Juvenile)

Juvenile Egyptian Vulture scavenging outside a semi-urban settlement near Mathura. The juveniles have brownish plumage around the head which turns white eventually. The grey legs turn pink in the adult.

Vulture,Juvenile Egyptian Vulture scavenging outside a semi-urban settlement near Mathura. The juveniles have brownish plumage around the head which turns white eventually. The grey legs turn pink in the adult.

African Harrier-hawk

Harrier-hawk,

Palm-nut Vulture (Juvenile)

Vulture,

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

The orange iris does make me suspect that this might be a wrong ID. However, I could rule out Besra and Shikra based on the sharp horizontal stripes across the chest.

Sparrowhawk,The orange iris does make me suspect that this might be a wrong ID. However, I could rule out Besra and Shikra based on the sharp horizontal stripes across the chest.

Crested or Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Pale morph, in flight)

Hawk-Eagle,

White-backed Vulture

Has a "Near Threatened" status.

Vulture,Has a "Near Threatened" status.

Long-crested Eagle

Eagle,

Eurasian Marsh Harrier (♂)

This Marsh Harrier, perched near the road, was surveying the landscape for a hunt when we stopped to take a closer look. Just when he was getting comfortable with our presence an auto-rickshaw showed up, honked incessantly, and made him fly away.

Harrier,This Marsh Harrier, perched near the road, was surveying the landscape for a hunt when we stopped to take a closer look. Just when he was getting comfortable with our presence an auto-rickshaw showed up, honked incessantly, and made him fly away.

Augur Buzzard

Buzzard,

Oriental Honey Buzzard (In flight)

Honey Buzzard flying over a highway on the Konkan coast.

Honey Buzzard,Honey Buzzard flying over a highway on the Konkan coast.

Brahminy Kite (Juvenile)

Kite,

Black Kite (In flight)

Black Kite photographed from Sadashivgad fort near Karwar.

Kite,Black Kite photographed from Sadashivgad fort near Karwar.

Lappet-faced Vulture

Vulture,

Great Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk,

White-bellied Sea Eagle

This is one half of a pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles that nested on a tree right next to the resort we were staying in. It was an absolute privilege to be able to watch them at eye level, as they went about their day.

Sea Eagle,This is one half of a pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles that nested on a tree right next to the resort we were staying in. It was an absolute privilege to be able to watch them at eye level, as they went about their day.

Crested Serpent Eagle (Juvenile)

Eagle,

Shikra (Juvenile)

Shikra,

Himalayan Vulture

Wanted to include this picture just to show how much bigger Himalayan Vultures are compared to crows.

Vulture,Wanted to include this picture just to show how much bigger Himalayan Vultures are compared to crows.

Lesser Fishing Eagle

We see these eagles every time we visit Galibore. This magnificent individual had just returned wet, presumably from a very recent fishing sortie, and was drying its feathers on a dry branch by the ricer bank.

Eagle,We see these eagles every time we visit Galibore. This magnificent individual had just returned wet, presumably from a very recent fishing sortie, and was drying its feathers on a dry branch by the ricer bank.

Himalayan Vulture

Vulture,

African Fish Eagle

African Fish Eagle scanning its quarry by the edge of the lake in Amboseli.

Eagle,African Fish Eagle scanning its quarry by the edge of the lake in Amboseli.

Red-headed Vulture

The highlight of this trip was spotting four different species of vulture devouring a carcass of a spotted deer. Three of those were lifers for me.

Vulture,The highlight of this trip was spotting four different species of vulture devouring a carcass of a spotted deer. Three of those were lifers for me.

Pallid Harrier

Harrier,

Tawny Eagle

Eagle,

Bald Eagle

Probably male, perched on the tallest tree on the shore.

Eagle,Probably male, perched on the tallest tree on the shore.