Philippine Eagle

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, is an eagle of the family Accipitridae that is endemic to the rainforests in the Philippines. Affinities uncertain. Recent molecular study suggested that it may be sister to Circaetus. Monotypic.

It has been declared the Philippine national bird. It is critically endangered, mainly due to massive loss of habitat due to deforestation in most of its range. Killing a Philippine Eagle is punishable under Philippine law by twelve years in jail and heavy fines. Attempts are being made to breed the eagle in captivity, but with a rapidly shrinking habitat, its future looks uncertain.

Description
This magnificent eagle is one of the rarest and most endangered birds of prey in the world, with an estimated population of 226 birds. One of the largest of the world's birds of prey, they measure 90 –; 4700 –; with a wingspan of 184 –, sexes alike, but females are larger than males. This rain forest eagle has the typical shape of a forest-dwelling raptor: their wings are large with broad, rounded tips and the tail is long; this combination provides speed and agility when the bird manoueuvres amongst the branches. It has brown and white-coloured plumage, and a shaggy crest.

Behaviour
At times, the eagle is seen soaring over the forest, but it hunts mainly in the trees, moving from branch and pausing to watch for prey. It also hunts from a perch in the trees. The species is sedentary (non-migratory).

Diet
It takes forest animals such as monkeys, flying lemurs (colugos),  and they are large enough to take down birds up to hornbill size  and small deer, hence its alternate name, the Monkey-eating Eagle. Snatches monkeys from a low-level attacks.

Calls
They utter long, drawn-out whistles that seem weak for such a large and powerful bird.

Reproduction
The nest is a bulky structure of sticks and twigs, lined and placed in the fork of a large branch in a tree rising above the surrounding rain forest. A single egg is laid, and the species probably nests only every second year.

Distribution/habitat
Now restricted to a few patches of rainforest on some of the Philippine islands, such as Mindanao in heavy forest from 500 - 4000 ft.;