This taxon is Not Recognised as a species by BirdLife International.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.
Nisaetus philippensis and N. pinskeri (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as N. philippensis following Haring et al. (2006), which before then was placed in the genus Spizaetus following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).
65-70 cm. Medium-sized eagle with longish, black crest. Rufescent-brown crown and face, streaked darker. Dark brown upperparts. Brown tail with 4-5 darker bars. White throat, bordered by dark malars. Black mesial stripe. Rufous underparts with black streaking. Finely barred black-and-white "trousers". Pale iris. In flight, shows broad, rounded wings and well-barred flight feathers. Juvenile has white head and underparts, upperparts fringed paler. Acquires adult plumage over four years. Similar spp. Difficult to separate from Barred Honey-buzzard Pernis celebensis and Changeable Hawk-eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus unless seen well. Combination of long crest and feathered legs diagnostic. Voice Loud, disyllabic whistle. Hints Look around forest edge.
Distribution and population
Spizaetus philippensis is endemic to the Philippines, where there are records from c.60 sites on at least 12 islands (Collar et al. 1999). Since 1980, there have been records from 15 localities on Luzon (primarily in the Sierra Madre mountains), 13 on Mindanao and six on Mindoro, Bohol, Negros and possibly Panay, combined. Historically, the species was rare, and the spate of recent records - most of unconfirmed identification - does not change that impression. Although relatively common at one site on Mindanao, it is uncommon in the Sierra Madre lowlands, very scarce on Mindoro and Negros, and is very probably already extinct on some smaller islands within its former range (e.g. Siquijor). Following recent fieldwork, 200-220 pairs were estimated to remain on Luzon and 320-340 pairs on Mindanao. If these estimates are accurate, the overall population must be very low.
It inhabits primary, selectively logged and disturbed forest, occasionally frequenting open areas, from the lowlands to lower mountain slopes, almost exclusively below 1,000 m. It appears not to tolerate much forest degradation. No migration is known, although unconfirmed reports from the migration funnel of Dalton Pass (Luzon) hint at intra-island movements.
Deforestation for plantation agriculture, livestock and logging throughout its extensive, predominantly lowland range is the chief threat. In 1988, forest cover was as low as 24% on Luzon and 29% on Mindanao and these figures are likely to be overestimates, with most lowland forest leased to logging concessions. Habitat loss is exacerbated by considerable hunting and trapping pressure.
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It has been recorded recently from numerous protected areas, including Mts Isarog and Makiling National Parks, the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and Bataan Natural Park/Subic Bay on Luzon, Mt Canlaon on Negros, and Mt Kitanglad and Mt Apo Natural Parks and Mt Malindang on Mindanao, and Rajah Sikatuna National Park on Bohol and recently on Mount Irid-Angilo-Binuang of the Southern Sierra Madre in Luzon (J. Ibanez in litt. 2007), as well as Tadao Ilocos Norte, Mt Palay Palay and Mt Banahao (D. Allen in litt. 2012). These sites are legally protected through local government decrees, but the efficacy of this legislation is often unclear and is ineffective at Mt Malindang and in the Southern Sierra Madre (D. Allen in litt. 2012). The species is regularly recorded during surveys for Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jeffreyi in Luzon (J. Ibanez in litt. 2007).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct further surveys in areas from which the species is known (e.g. Mt Los Dos Cuernos on Luzon, Mts Cabalantian/Capoto-an on Samar), which may merit formal protection. Study the species's ecology, particularly home-range size and dispersal ability to help inform a global population estimate and assess the likely impact of habitat fragmentation. Promote more effective enforcement of legislation designed to control hunting and trading. Gazette the proposed Southern Sierra Madre Protected Landscape. Use remote-sensing to assess forest loss in the Philippines and gauge the species's likely rate of decline and degree of fragmentation of its populations. Research hunting and trade by interviewing local people and visiting wildlife markets.
Collar, N. J.; Mallari, N. A. D.; Tabaranza, B. R. J. 1999. Threatened birds of the Philippines: the Haribon Foundation/BirdLife International Red Data Book. Bookmark, Makati City.
Further web sources of information
Detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001).
Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Bird, J., Lowen, J., Taylor, J.
Allen, D., Ibanez, J.
BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Nisaetus philippensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 27/02/2015. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2015) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 27/02/2015.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
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Additional resources for this species
|Current IUCN Red List category||Not Recognised|
|Family||Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles)|
|Species name author||(Gould, 1863)|