Alternative name: Crested Hawk-Eagle
- Nisaetus cirrhatus
Spizaetus cirrhatus
Identification
60-72cm
- Brown upperparts
- White underparts
- Barred underside of flight feathers and tail
- Black streaks on throat
- Dark brown streaks on breast
Sexes alike; females larger
The name is due to the dual morph phases - a dark morph and a pale morph.
Distribution
Southern Asia: occurs in India, Sri Lanka and the Andamans and Nepal east to Vietnam and south to the Malay Peninsula. Also occurs in the southern Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra and Java.
Resident.
Taxonomy
New studies place this species in the genus Nisaetus instead of Spizaetus.
Subspecies[1]
Five subspecies are recognised:
- cirrhatus in India
- ceylanensis in Sri Lanka
- limnaeetus from north-east India to the Philippines, Borneo, and Java
- andamanensis in the Andaman Islands
- vanheurni on Simalur
Flores Hawk-Eagle was recently split from this species[1], [2].
Habitat
Forest and open woodland from sea-level up to 3,300m, hunting over forest edge and clearings.
Behaviour
Breeding
Its nest is made from sticks, placed in a tree. A single greyish-white egg is laid.
Diet
The diet includes mammals, birds and reptiles.
Vocalisation
Call: loud, high-pitched ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-kee.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Avibase
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Changeable Hawk-Eagle. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Changeable_Hawk-Eagle
External Links
