The Philippine Eagle is in the family Accipitridae, which includes hawks, kites, and old-world vultures. It can grow to about three feet long and is one of the largest animals in the jungle. The eagle is brown with feathers on its head that look like hair. It has yellow eyes with black pupils. This makes it hard to spot in the wild because humans hunt them to eat livestock or their eggs.
The Philippine Eagle is endangered, and there are not many alive. There are many reasons for this, but one of the main issues is that humans hunt them. Another reason is that they cannot find food because animals are in their territory.
People have been destroying the Philippine jungle’s natural habitat by cutting down trees and building roads. This means these species can’t find their food anymore because many animals have disappeared. This bird was found across the Philippines Islands until people started destroying their homes.
- Status: Critically endangered
- Known as: Philippine Eagle, Monkey-eating eagle
- Estimated numbers left in wild: 250 to 750 birds
Description
The Philippine eagle is the world’s largest eagle, with a wingspan of up to 2 meters, a body length of 90 centimeters, and a weight of 4.5 to 8 kilograms.
In addition to its size, the Philippine eagle is also distinguished by what might be called a ‘mane’ of brown and white feathers on its head. This mane can be raised or lowered at will. The underside of this eagle is white except for the primary and secondary wing feathers and tail, and the upper side is dark brown. The beak and facial mask are black.
Diet
As the Philippine eagle’s alternative name suggests, it eats monkeys and other small primates (including flying lemurs) as its preferred diet.
However, the Philippine eagle also eats bats, snakes, flying squirrels, and rats. These eagles have also been known to take small deer. They will hunt alone or in pairs, using one of the eagles as a distraction while the second can ambush the prey.
The Philippine eagle is monogamous, with pairs mating for life. However, if one pair dies, the surviving eagle usually finds another companion.
A pair of these eagles requires about 100 square kilometers of territory, although there is usually some territorial overlap between pairs.
While larger birds of prey are usually proportionately slower than hawks, the Philippine eagle’s flying speed corresponds more closely to the faster hawks.
Breeding
The Philippine eagle’s breeding season occurs in September, and a nest is built high in the jungle’s canopy. The pair produces only one egg, and this chick will remain with the parents for approximately one year. Due to the time involved in rearing the young, these eagles only nest every two years.
Location
As this eagle’s name indicates, it is found exclusively in the Philippines and only on Luzon, Leyte, Mindanao, and Samar islands. The majority of these birds are found on the island of Mindanao.
Philippine eagles prefer to live in dense woodland and avoid open forests and grasslands. However, their range includes lowland forests and heavily wooded zones in higher elevations, and they have been found at 1,800 meters. This eagle prefers areas with a steep landscape.
About Philippine Eagle
Philippine eagles are birds that are very large and endangered. They can grow up to 3 feet long and have brown feathers on their head, making them look like hair from a distance. Their eyes are yellow with black pupils, which makes it hard for hunters to spot them in the wild.
The Philippine Eagle is indigenous to the Philippines. It is hunted for meat and eggs, and trees are cut down, making it difficult to find food. Because people kill them and there aren’t enough trees, the eagle is endangered. It used to be discovered in Philippine forests. However, people have been removing trees and building roads.
There are no animals left for Philippine Eagles to eat. This means that they can’t find food. Birds like these are endangered because people destroy and hunt their habitat.
These species are almost extinct in the wild but still exist in zoos. They are brown birds with long feathers on their heads that, when seen from a distance, resemble hair.
Habitat
The Philippine eagle lives on four different islands. Mindanao has the greatest number of breeding pairs, with 82 to 233. On Samar Island, there are six pairs, whereas two each can be found on Leyte and Luzon Islands. It’s found in Northern Sierra Madre National Park on Luzon, Mount Apo, Mount Malindang, and Mount Kitanglad National Parks in Mindanao.
Eagles live in forests with dipterocarp and mid-montane trees. They live in steep areas of the forest. The elevation ranges from lowlands to mountains of over 1800 meters (5,900 feet). Only 9,220 km2 of old-growth forest remains in the bird’s range. That is about 2,280,000 acres. The total area that this bird lives in is 146,000 km2 or 56 sq mi.
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Philippine Eagle is endangered
The Philippine eagle is a critically endangered species. In the wild, fewer than 500 birds are remaining. The natural habitat of birds is under threat.
Deforestation has contributed to the species’ population decrease, although one of the most significant reasons is logging, as the birds nest high in the trees and rely on trees for food and shelter.
The Philippine Eagle usually hunts pigs, monkeys, birds, and insects that live in trees or near rivers. The species is threatened by deforestation and poaching. Sellers want to put them in zoos or sell them illegally.
To safeguard these species, their habitats are being preserved to safeguard their natural habitat. The Philippine Eagles are kept in huge cages for a few months before being reintroduced into the wild, so they don’t learn to hunt and consume independently. They are fed until they are released into their natural environment.
The species is being reestablished in its original surroundings. It’s being reintroduced gradually to allow it to learn how to hunt and find food independently. The bird has been successfully reintroduced in different reserves or areas.
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Conservation
Threats
The greatest threat to the Philippine eagle is habitat destruction. As the Philippine Islands are systematically deforested, the land available to the eagle shrinks yearly.
Logging and agricultural expansion are the major problems, but pesticides and pollution also take a toll, especially on the fertility of the eagles. Poachers still take a few birds, and mining enterprises destroy the forest areas the eagles need.
It has been estimated that only about 10% of the original forestland in the Philippines remains.
Conservation efforts
Several protected reserves offer the Philippine eagle a habitat where it can live fairly normally. Programs have been instituted to provide income for the natives without destroying the environment.
Legislation prohibits hunting and disturbance of nests, and captive breeding programs are in effect that will hopefully allow for the birds to be reintroduced to the wild.
Organizations
If you know of or are part of an organization that works to conserve the Philippine Eagle, please contact us to have it featured on Our Endangered World.
FAQs
What are Philippine Eagles?
Philippine Eagles, scientifically known as Pithecophaga jefferyi, are unique organisms. Contrary to the description, they are not gill-bearing aquatic craniate animals that lack limbs with digits. This majestic bird is known as the Monkey-eating Eagle or Great Philippine Eagle.
Is the Philippine Eagle Endangered?
The species is critically endangered, with over half of the remaining nesting pairs found in the uncontrolled forest on Mindanao Island. Despite being recognized as the national bird of the Philippines, the Philippine Eagle faces endangerment due to the destruction of nesting sites brought about by deforestation, intentional ensnarement in traps set for wild pigs, and illicit hunting by farmers reacting to the predation of their domestic animals and livestock.
Is Philippine Eagle Compatible With Humans?
The Philippine Eagle may be observed stationed on dead trees in rural areas. It has been shown to have adapted to coexisting with humans, although this may also be due to the lack of natural predators.
Where Can I Find Philippine Eagle?
Philippine Eagles inhabit islands within the Philippine archipelago and are often found near areas populated by humans. These birds favor lowland tropical rainforests, where they can soar and prey on monkeys and flying lemurs that inhabit these regions. The majority of Philippine Eagles reside on the islands of Catanduanes, Samar, Mindanao, Luzon, and Dinagat.
These eagles have also been spotted in several Philippine provinces, including Quezon, Palawan, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan. They inhabit forests such as Mount Isarog National Park in Bicol, Mount Kitanglad in Bukidnon, Davao City, and Mount Apo. They have also been sighted in the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani. Unfortunately, Philippine eagles have been forced out of their habitats due to various factors, including logging and deforestation.
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