• BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

    Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Papuan Eagle - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 08:16, 7 October 2007 by IanF (talk | contribs)
Harpyopsis novaeguineae

Identification

New Guinea Eagle (New Guinea Harpy Eagle) Harpyopsis novaeguineae

The New Guinea eagle is an elusive raptor with grayish brown feathers and whitish coloring on its underparts. It is a large forest eagle with a broad wingspan of up to three feet, with a short head ruff.



Distribution

New Guinea: widespread but becoming scarce or rare in many areas through loss of habitat. Occurs in the Arfak Mts and the Vogelkop Peninsula in Irian Jaya and in the Lakekamu Basin, the Wau area, on Mt Hagen, the Tari Valley, around Tabubil and Bensbach in Papua New Guinea. Resident.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Primary rainforest from lowlands up to 3,000m. Most often seen soaring high over forest canopy.

Behaviour

The eagle perches on limbs in the canopy with a distinctive upright posture, and curves its tail forward.

The New Guinea eagle mainly eats larger animals including possums, rats, wallabies, lizards, and on occasion, birds. It runs on the ground and walks up tree trunks and branches and then uses its claws to extract prey hidden in the tree.

The New Guinea eagle usually calls at dawn or dusk with a deep, resonant sound of "bung," similar to the sound of a bowstring being released. Sometimes a short "buk" notes follow.


External Links

Top