The Philippine eagle (Pithecia jefferyi) also known as the monkey-eating eagle, is one of the strongest and rarest birds in the world. It’s also the national bird of the Philippines.
This bird is considered a large bird, with a height of around 86–102 cm, making it one of the tallest eagles. Female Philippine eagles are larger than males, the difference in size is about 10%. They can weigh up to 8 kg with a wingspan of 184 to 220 cm.
They have brown plumage with a white body, and the color of their feathers gets darker towards the tip of their wings. Their most striking feature is their brown feathers that form a shaggy, mane-like crest. With a dark face and a grey-bluish sharp beak, the Philippine eagle looks fierce and majestic at the same time.
Behavior
Philippine eagles are solitary hunters, they prefer hunting alone rather than in groups. They are also highly territorial, each territory can go up to 100 km2. They will defend their hunting grounds from intruders, including other eagles.
They are diurnal animals, so they are more active during the day. Pairs of birds would patrol their territory to search for food.
The Philippine eagle uses two hunting techniques, still-hunting and perch-hunting. Still-hunting involves stalking the prey while seeming almost motionless. While perch-hunting involves gliding down from the canopy to the branches. If they aren’t successful, they will fly back up again and repeat the process.
Habitat
Just like its name, the Philippine eagle can only be found in the Philippines. They can only be found on the islands of eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.
Philippine eagles prefer thick, untouched forests with tall-towering trees. These trees are essential for nesting and hunting. The tall trees give them a vantage point to search for prey, while the thick-dense canopy provides shelter and protection from extreme weather.
Breeding
Philippine eagles are monogamous birds, they stay with one partner until they die. If one dies, the other eagle will find a new partner.
They have one of the longest breeding cycles among other birds of prey. One breeding cycle lasts up to 2 years, and that is even in the best conditions. This slow reproduction rate is one of the factors of their declining population.
Their courtship ritual begins by building the nest. Then they would perform aerial displays that involve chasing each other and showing off their talons.
Their nests are built on dipterocarp or trees with open crowns. The nests are made from leaves, sticks, and twigs. It usually has a diameter of around 1,5 m in diameter and is usually built on tall trees with heights reaching 30 m or even more. The parents would reuse the same nest for several different chicks.
Female Philippine eagles only lay one egg every breeding cycle. If an egg fails to hatch or the chick dies early, the parents would likely lay another egg the following year. The egg is incubated for 58 to 68 days, and both parents incubate the egg, but the female does the majority of incubating. Eight to ten days before laying an egg, the female will be afflicted with a condition called egg lethargy. The female won’t eat, drink little water, and her wings would droop.
Both parents would take turns feeding and shielding the newly hatched chick. The chick would fledge after 4 to 5 months. The earliest kill an eagle made was 304 days after hatching. The parents will take care of the chick for 20 months.
Diets and Threats
The Philippine eagle was thought to only eat monkeys, but studies show that they are opportunist carnivores, meaning they eat whatever prey is available, such as monkeys, reptiles, squirrels, and even other large birds such as owls, hawks, and hornbills.
This misconception was thought to have formed from the first examined specimen that was found to have undigested pieces of a monkey in its stomach.
The Philippine eagle doesn’t have any predators other than humans. Human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and poaching continue to threaten their existence.
Photo Credit: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/urgent-projects/protect-the-spirit-forest-and-save-the-philippine-eagle/
Conservation
The Philippine eagle is labeled as “Critically Endangered” by the IUCN, and its population is steadily decreasing. In 2016, only about 180-500 mature individuals were left in the wild.
Their main cause of death is deforestation, which causes habitat loss. Habitat loss can slow down their reproduction process and even cause death. Mining, pollution, exposure to pesticides, and poaching are also major threats.
The Philippine eagles may sometimes hunt domesticated animals, so unfortunately, farmers would hunt them down. But killing this bird is punishable by 12 years in jail and heavy fines under Philippine law.
Conservation Efforts
1. Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF)
The Philippine Eagle Foundation operates the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao, where they care, feed, breed, and when possible, reintroduce them into the wild. They also work with local communities to promote conservation awareness.
2. BirdLife International
BirdLife International has been supporting stronger protection of Philippine forests and the species that live there, including the Philippine eagle. They work with local governments and organizations to prevent further deforestation.
Conclusion
The Philippine eagle is one of the rarest and strongest birds in the world, but with its slow reproduction cycle and constant threats from habitat destruction and poaching, its survival depends on conservation efforts. By preserving forests, enforcing anti-poaching laws, and raising awareness, we can help protect and ensure there will be a future for the Philippine eagle.