APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)

[geckzilla]

I don't think it's possible to narrow the list of possible birds that silhouette could belong to down to a reasonable list of candidates. We have no way of telling what size the bird is and some of the key defining characteristics of a bird would be the shape of its wings when viewed dorsally or ventrally, the pattern of the plumage, and the shape of the beak. We can't see any of these. You may as well say that the bird could be nearly any of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Italy

Aside from ones with very long necks or legs such as flamingos... (I think we would see the legs hanging off the back in that case)

[naema]

Looks like an Eagle. I think only Eagles can fly so high.

[neufer]

I don't think it's possible to narrow the list of possible birds that silhouette could belong to down to a reasonable list of candidates. We have no way of telling what size the bird is and some of the key defining characteristics of a bird would be the shape of its wings when viewed dorsally or ventrally, the pattern of the plumage, and the shape of the beak. We can't see any of these. You may as well say that the bird could be nearly any of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Italy

Aside from ones with very long necks or legs such as flamingos... (I think we would see the legs hanging off the back in that case)

Perhaps we can get some professional help from these guys:

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

[StefanoDeRosa]

Many thanks again for your comments!

You can find other images featuring the Basilica of Superga with the Moon and the Sun here:
http://stefanoderosa.com/torino/

Best regards

Stefano

[kwsimmons]

Hi everyone, the bird in this picture is a dove or pigeon of some sort. There is no way to see specifically which dove it is however. The way the wings are shaped and how the body is styled while flying clearly match the flight of a dove. It is difficult to tell if it is a large bodied owl because there is no size comparison. But I do think it's a dove.

[saturn2]

Stefano De Rosa, Congratulations.
This is a very good work.
The image is beautiful.

[Wolf Kotenberg]

Even the sharks were mesmerised and did not notice the free meal....wonder if animals are affected by celestial events in ways tha can be measured ?

[ddagemini]

UFO?

[spamboli]

i would think the most likely birds to see flying at dusk would be either an owl or a nightjar - i say nightjar

[OrionCheetah]

Its a frigate bird!!! I feel like a genius! Yay~ xD

[OrionCheetah]

Dear all,

many thanks for you comments!
Yes I confirm that I planned the shot in advance, also visiting the shooting site a couple of days before. Of course I did not plan the bird, even if I must say that it is not the first time that one of my Moon/Basilica pictures is blessed by the entrance of such a special guest

Click to view full size image

Maybe this can help in guessing what kind of bird is

Thanks again

Stefano

Is it a frigate bird??

[neufer]

[b][color=#0000FF]Range of the Frigatebird (over tropical oceans)[/color][/b]

---

Its a frigate bird!!! I feel like a genius! Yay~ xD

Fri-gate-it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nocturnal_birds

[owlice]

I think owl, also. Here's one silhouette of an owl in flight; though it's not head-on.

[OrionCheetah]

I thought its a frigate bird because it really look like one.
But it seems that everyone is agreeing its an owl, so I think its more likely to be a owl. :/

[StefanoDeRosa]

Stefano De Rosa, Congratulations.
This is a very good work.
The image is beautiful.

Mant thanks for your comment

Stefano

[Beyond]

Well, after many looks at the two different photos with the moon and the Basilica, with the two birds looking the same, and with no feet hanging down, it must be some species of owl, even though the wings don't look quite right to me. It will take someone who lives in the area, that is familiar with the birds that fly at night, to make a more conclusive decision on the matter. So for now, i say that it is a relative of owlice, whom for the time being, is a Code-Seeking Raptor. I guess you could say that this APOD is for the Bird.