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Changeable Hawk-Eagle - BirdForum Opus

Subspecies ceylanensis
Photo by Andrew S
Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka, November 2003

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

Juvenile 'pale morph'
Photo by kctsang
Singapore, 2006

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

Photo by michha62
Khanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

New studies place this species in the genus Nisaetus instead of Spizaetus.

Subspecies[1]

Five subspecies are recognised which are sometimes split in two species:
Crested Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus):

Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus limnaeetus)

Flores Hawk-Eagle was recently split from this species[1], [2].

Clements [1] now splits this species. However, the other worldlists don't follow yet and the Opus awaits further clarification.

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

  1. 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.
  2. Avibase
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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