Alternative name: Crested Hawk-Eagle
Includes Flores Hawk-Eagle
- 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, Java, Sumbawa, and Flores. Resident.
Taxonomy
Six 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, and floris on Flores and Sumbawa. Some authorities view subspecies floris as a full species Flores Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus floris)
Habitat
Forest and open woodland from sea-level up to 3,300m, hunting over forest edge and clearings.
Behaviour
Its nest is made from sticks, placed in a tree; 1 grey white egg is laid.
The diet includes mammals, birds and reptiles.
Vocalisation
Call: loud, high-pitched ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-kee.
References
Wikipedia
