Welcome to the zoo : The pictures - New pics 23 january 2021

Is correct that the second black kite is a juvenile, I didn't mentioned it but was evident. About the first one, I understand your impression because the witish plumage in face make it looks like more close to a red kite than other black kites are, however this is a highly variable character within the species and often black kites shows this degree of white in the face, and the pics are indeed from a black kite, not a red kite.

Since ever I've identified almost all lifeforms to other people on jizz, except very rare exceptions where I use google search for less distinctive or lesser known species. Identifying on jizz can be sometimes even more reliable than using books for identifying.

Pardofelis wrote:

Is correct that the second black kite is a juvenile, I didn't mentioned it but was evident. About the first one, I understand your impression because the witish plumage in face make it looks like more close to a red kite than other black kites are, however this is a highly variable character within the species and often black kites shows this degree of white in the face, and the pics are indeed from a black kite, not a red kite.

Since ever I've identified almost all lifeforms to other people on jizz, except very rare exceptions where I use google search for less distinctive or lesser known species. Identifying on jizz can be sometimes even more reliable than using books for identifying.

Indeed, I would say black kite even for the two first pics because I have been fooled often enough (always in zoos because in the wild they are flying and you cannot confuse them) to know that it is indeed a highly variable pattern.

Identifying on jizz is not more reliable than using a book : if you are able to identify like that, it just means that you have watched the book so many times that you actually have become the book yourself But the book is necessary to learn in the first place.

Yes of course, that's what I meant. One grows memorizing the books, websites, expositions, presentations, direct teaching from experts, etc and then is able to identifying things without consult again, and the experience tends to make you avoid most times the confusions and errors that you can commit if you just use a book for identify what you don't know. That's just what identifying on jizz is :)

RtasVadumee wrote:

Kikimalou wrote:

 Rtas, I'm not a birdwatcher and I can't distinguish easily a Black kite from a Common buzzard without seeing the whole body, wings and tail.
When I take bird pics in a zoo, I usualy note the bird's name or pictured it. In this case, I noted Common buzzard and I suppose the Puy du fou falconners know their job. Maybe I fumbled something ?
Now, I would be vey happy if you explain me the differences between the two bird's heads on the four pics above.

About my pics I thank you, 41 years ago I bought an old Rolleiflex 6X6 and learned photo lab technics so making nice pics is the least I can do

The small black stripes on the chest are typical of kites to begin with, the grey circle around the eyes, bill and throat on the first two pictures really looks kite too and the black eyebrow on the two following pics is typical of a black kite juvenile. But again, I identify based on "jizz". I know it might not sound serious but I have seen most French birds so many times in real and in identification books that I am rarely wrong, even if saying that makes me look as self-confident as my Spanish friend (which you'd know I am clearly not if you met me in real).

However, your raptors are not typical-looking black kites : the second one is clearly a young one and the first almost looks red kite juvenile to me.

So you are talking about the four pics I add which are not mine, is it ? I found them on the web, the two first were labelled black kite and the last ones common buzzards. It is still confusing for me.
Could you show comparison pics ?
Don't worry about being not self-confident, having doubts is the best way to improve yourself without a doubt

Kikimalou wrote:

RtasVadumee wrote:

Kikimalou wrote:

 Rtas, I'm not a birdwatcher and I can't distinguish easily a Black kite from a Common buzzard without seeing the whole body, wings and tail.
When I take bird pics in a zoo, I usualy note the bird's name or pictured it. In this case, I noted Common buzzard and I suppose the Puy du fou falconners know their job. Maybe I fumbled something ?
Now, I would be vey happy if you explain me the differences between the two bird's heads on the four pics above.

About my pics I thank you, 41 years ago I bought an old Rolleiflex 6X6 and learned photo lab technics so making nice pics is the least I can do

The small black stripes on the chest are typical of kites to begin with, the grey circle around the eyes, bill and throat on the first two pictures really looks kite too and the black eyebrow on the two following pics is typical of a black kite juvenile. But again, I identify based on "jizz". I know it might not sound serious but I have seen most French birds so many times in real and in identification books that I am rarely wrong, even if saying that makes me look as self-confident as my Spanish friend (which you'd know I am clearly not if you met me in real).

However, your raptors are not typical-looking black kites : the second one is clearly a young one and the first almost looks red kite juvenile to me.

So you are talking about the four pics I add which are not mine, is it ? I found them on the web, the two first were labelled black kite and the last ones common buzzards. It is still confusing for me.
Could you show comparison pics ?
Don't worry about being not self-confident, having doubts is the best way to improve yourself without a doubt

No, I am definitely talking about YOUR pics, I just made a mistake saying "the following two" while there was three of them (the juvenile pictures).

There is no debate about the ones you found on the net, they are typical black kites and common buzzards, no way to confuse them on these ones.

I would not be very useful to show comparison pics as every black kites are different individuals, just as human beings, and drawings are usualy less biased and more reliable when indentifying birds are concerned. The criterias I told about are clearly visible on this book, which is European birdwatchers' absolute reference : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

But again, you have to see dozens of black kites and common buzzards to be able to identify them immediately at first sight.

RtasVadumee wrote:

No, I am definitely talking about YOUR pics, I just made a mistake saying "the following two" while there was three of them (the juvenile pictures).

There is no debate about the ones you found on the net, they are typical black kites and common buzzards, no way to confuse them on these ones.

I would not be very useful to show comparison pics as every black kites are different individuals, just as human beings, and drawings are usualy less biased and more reliable when indentifying birds are concerned. The criterias I told about are clearly visible on this book, which is European birdwatchers' absolute reference : [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

But again, you have to see dozens of black kites and common buzzards to be able to identify them immediately at first sight.

I'm not a raptor specialist, I never saw dozens of black kites and common buzzards and I only have the Guide des rapaces diurnes du monde.
I believe you but again, looking at my book, it isn't so obvious to me.

So today, no Common kites or Black buzzards but a few Great predators from the La Palmyre zoo.
Polar bear , Slender-snouted crocodile and Ceylon leopard.

Very nice to enjoy zoo photos as the UK is in National Lockdown and schools shut, so this makes me feel so much happier!

My pleasure

I like especially the photo of the leopard slurping his tongue.

She was looking right in the eyes of another visitor

Kiki, I have noticed that your profile pic has seemed to acquire quite a deformed facial expression

This week Kikimalou is replaced by Kikicasso

Beauuuuuutiful photos !
This Leo is so beautiful and you catched amazing photos of it.
I love polar bears ! The expression of this one is so tipical :)
Well done Kikicasso

Thank you Kosta

The leopard is a real beauty! The eyes, omg, breathtaking She's magnificent!

She had a baby, unfortunately I was unable to make a nice family pic.

Ohhhh so wonderful, gorgeous unusual animals that I've never seen in a zoo here!

The Yorkshire wildlife park, not far from me has polar bears Lillias, they are unbelievably majestic!

Oh wow- amazing to be able to see them!

55 zoos/safari parks keep polar bears today in Europe (2 in the UK)
111 zoos/safari parks used to keep polar bears in Europe (17 in the UK)

Very interesting statistics- the number has definitely dropped massively!

I spent a day at the Zoodyssée parc in the Chizé forest (Poitou-Charentes France). This park is specialized in European fauna.
It wasn't a good day for me, I was a bit sick, my daughter was fed up with zoos so I didn't find enough time and energy to make good pics.
Here are the few ones I can show you without shame.
One is dedicated to Rogério and the other to Alain (Caracal)  

They are beautiful photos. What kind of cat is it?