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)
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:48 pm
by naema
Looks like an Eagle. I think only Eagles can fly so high.
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:03 pm
by neufer
geckzilla wrote:
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:
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.
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:38 pm
by saturn2
Stefano De Rosa, Congratulations.
This is a very good work.
The image is beautiful.
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:17 pm
by 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 ?
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 12:15 am
by ddagemini
UFO?
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:58 am
by spamboli
i would think the most likely birds to see flying at dusk would be either an owl or a nightjar - i say nightjar
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:02 am
by OrionCheetah
Its a frigate bird!!! I feel like a genius! Yay~ xD
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:08 am
by OrionCheetah
StefanoDeRosa wrote: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
I think owl, also. Here's one silhouette of an owl in flight; though it's not head-on.
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:54 am
by 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. :/
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:42 am
by StefanoDeRosa
saturn2 wrote:Stefano De Rosa, Congratulations.
This is a very good work.
The image is beautiful.
Mant thanks for your comment
Stefano
Re: APOD: September's Harvest Moon (2011 Sep 16)
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:58 am
by 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.
I thought its a frigate bird because it really look like one. 
I guess you could say that this APOD is for the Bird.