Another observation of Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) in Algeria and Northwest Africa in general.
There were no documented breeding of the Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) anywhere in Northwest Africa since many years. In Morocco and Algeria, for example, the last known breeding pairs date back to the early 1990s.
Despite this lack of observations, the species may still breed in some isolated places. And the recent observations in Algeria could be an indication of this.
First, there was the observation by Mourad Harzallah and Aimene Boulaouad in the region of Bordj Bou Arréridj, north-east Algeria in July 2018.
Then there is this one which was made two weeks ago in north-west Algeria by Mayssara El Bouhissi. The photo above is of low quality because it was first shared in FB, where many birders agreed that it’s a Tawny Eagle. I will contact the observer, and hopefully get the original photo.
Thanks to Mayssara for the observation and to Walid Dahmani for sharing the photo.
Łukasz Czajka cropped and prepared the following photos and commented:
No signs for translucent window in inner primaries (not imm. Spanish Eagle A. adelberti); non uniform, lightened center of remiges (not Greater Spotted C. clanga ‘fulvescens’) also P4 very thin & long. I think it`s Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax).
Comments welcome!