Accipitridae

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

44 unique species photographed in this family

Besra

Besra near the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary.

Besra,Besra near the Bhadra wildlife sanctuary.

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.

Shikra (juvenile)

A juvenile Shikra

Shikra,A juvenile Shikra

Booted Eagle (Pale Morph)

Eagle,

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.

Egyptian Vulture (Adult)

Vulture,

Black-shouldered Kite

Kite,

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.

Crested Serpent Eagle (Juvenile)

Eagle,

Crested Serpent Eagle

Eagle,

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.

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.

Crested Goshawk

Goshawk,

Crested Serpent Eagle

Crested Serpent Eagle in Bandipur.

Eagle,Crested Serpent Eagle in Bandipur.

Cinereous Vulture

Vulture,

Lesser Fishing Eagle

Eagle,

Plumbeous Kite

Kite,

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.

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

Greater Spotted Eagle (Adult)

Eagle,

Greater Spotted Eagle (Juvenile)

Eagle,

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

Hawk-Eagle,

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.

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.

Black-shouldered Kite (Flight)

Kite,

Crested or Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Hawk-Eagle,

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.

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.

Grey-Headed Fish- Eagle

Eagle,

White-eyed Buzzard

Buzzard,

Greater Spotted Eagle

Greater spotted Eagle flying high over the Mangroves in Mumbai.

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

Pallas's Fish Eagle

Fish Eagle,

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.

Eurasian Marsh Harrier (♀)

Harrier,

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.

Black Kite (In flight)

Black Kite photographed from Sadashivgad fort near Karwar.

Kite,Black Kite photographed from Sadashivgad fort near Karwar.

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.

African Harrier-hawk

Harrier-hawk,

Bald Eagle

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

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

Long-crested Eagle

Eagle,

African Fish Eagle

Eagle,

Shikra

Shikra,

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.

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.

Lappet-faced Vulture

Vulture,

Tawny Eagle

Eagle,

Shikra (Juvenile)

Shikra,

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.

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.

Brahminy Kite (Adult)

Kite,

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.

Palm-nut Vulture (Juvenile)

Vulture,

Upland Buzzard

Buzzard,

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Goshawk,

Himalayan Vulture

Vulture,

Roadside Hawk

Hawk,

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.

Brahminy Kite (Juvenile)

Kite,

Grey-Headed Fish- Eagle

Grey-headed Fishing Eagle at Kanha National Park.

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

Common Buzzard

Buzzard,

Pallid Harrier

Harrier,

White-backed Vulture

Has a "Near Threatened" status.

Vulture,Has a "Near Threatened" status.

Montagu's Harrier

Harrier,