Booted Eagle, Kole Wetlands, Trichur, India

By SS Suresh

The booted eagle (Hieraatus pennatus) relishing on cormorant kill. Photographed from Kole wetlands in Kerala, India. The booted eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey, with a wide distribution. There are two distinct plumage forms, pale birds mainly light grey with darker heads and flight feathers. Whereas the other form has mid-brown plumage with dark grey flight feathers.