Changeable Hawk Eagle
Changeable Hawk Eagle is one of the common species of bird of prey in south East Asia. They are medium size eagle which measured about 55CM – 75 CM. Theyhave many morph and the different among the morph is their colour.
Here in the photo below is three different morph of changeable hawk eagle.
Here is some good information that I got when I search for changeable hawk eagle in the net:
The Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae.
Changeable Hawk Eagle breeds in southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia and the Philippines. It is a bird of open woodland, although island forms prefer a higher tree density. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays a single egg.
Changeable Hawk Eagle is a medium-large raptor at about 60-72cm in length. As its name implies, the plumage is very variable, and the existence of a number of subspecies further complicates identification. Most subspecies have a crest of four feathers, but this is reduced in some races, and is absent in some island forms.
Changeable Hawk Eagle at Bandipur National Park, India
Changeable Hawk Eagle at Bandipur National Park, India
The typical adult has brown upperparts and pale underparts, with barring on the undersides of the flight feathers and tail. The breast and belly are streaked. Some birds are much darker. The wings are long and parallel-sided, and are held flat in flight, which helps to distinguish this species from the similar Mountain Hawk Eagle, (Spizaetus nipalensis).
Sexes are similar, but young birds are often whiter-headed. Changeable Hawk Eagle eats mammals, birds and reptiles.
(source: Wikipedia)
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:57 pm
[...] Other than hawk conservancy trust, wikipedia also provide some good information about indian black eagle. wiki discribe this eagle asa large raptor at about 70-80cm in length. Adults have all-black plumage, with a yellow bill base (cere) and feet. The wings are long and pinched in at the innermost primaries giving a distinctive shape. The tail is also long, and shows faint barring. The wings are held in a shallow V in flight. Seen on hot afternoon, scouring the treetops for a nest, this bird is easily spotted by its jet black colour, large size, and a ‘characteristic’ slow flight, sometimes just above the canopy. Sexes are similar, but young birds have a buff head, underparts and underwing coverts. The wing shape helps to distinguish this species from the dark form of Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus). [...]