Short-toed Snake Eagle
Nikkor 200-500 VR/TC 14 III @700mm, f8, Nikon Z 6
A minute before we spotted the old crocodile; crop (APS-C).
The Indian subcontinent is the only region where this migratory raptor lives all year round (its main prey is active). The medium/larger size raptor (wingspan of females close to 2 m) is related to the https://tinyurl.com/crested-serpent-eagle. In Czech, a specific name is given to this subfamily's genera of reptile hunters*. The numbers of this species in Europe are declining. To the birds lucky to live in this mangrove pocket of wild, it makes little difference what kind of Hominin is walking below on the ground.
Odisha
*For those less familiar with the taxonomy concept, and at the risk of sounding critical where there’s no intent to be, I can add that as mentioned before with long-tailed tit, e.g., the (British) English nomenclature is interesting in that that it often doesn’t follow the taxonomic one.
The beauty of following the taxonomic order with names is in that they indicate the species’ evolutionary path, which becomes more apparent and intuitively learnt with the name.
On the other hand, there is beauty in a more poetic, let’s say, folk way of naming the species (including single-word names), too, where the link to taxonomy isn’t as restrictive which leaves more freedom in creating the names - but with fewer names for genera.
