Unmistakable. Huge eagle with pale appearance. A monotypic genus.
Voice: No information.
Habits: A forest specialist occurring in primary montane rainforest, from the foothills to 2,000 metres. Sometimes found in the lowlands or seen soaring along forest edges. Mostly moves inside or below the canopies hunting for tree-dwelling prey such as monkeys, civet cats, squirrels, bats, flying lemurs and large birds and reptiles. The species has been extensively studied, but is now very rare due to habitat clearance and hunting. Less than 200 individuals believed to survive in the wild.
RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE
Hieraaetus kienerii 51 cm F: Accipitridae
Description: Note diagnostic rufous underparts contrasting with white chest and throat
Voice: A high-pitched scream, preceded by preliminary notes.
Habits: Found in primary and mature secondary lowland and submontane rainforest. Soars in low circles over the trees. An elegant flyer, swooping like a falcon through the air to catch birds and small mammals. Little studied and generally an uncommon species.
CHANGEABLE HAWK-EAGLE
Spizaetus cirrhatus 68 cm F: Accipitridae
Description: Plumage variable; photo shows pale morph. Subspecies from India has longer crest than Southeast Asian birds. Dark morph has uniformly dark brown plumage.
Voice: A series of ascending shrill screams hwee-hwee-hweeee.
Habits: A low-density forest species occurring in the lowlands, but also found at submontane elevations; in Thailand up to 2,000 metres. Prefers primary forest and closed secondary growth, but also strays into nearby disturbed areas. Sometimes soars over trees like the more common Crested Serpent-eagle. Can be recognised by its longer call,.size and lack of wing-bars.
MOUNTAIN HAWK-EAGLE
Spizaetus nipalensis 66 cm F: Accipitridae
Description: A large hawk-eagle. Note banded underparts and very broad wings.
Voice: Three shrill notes, tlueet-weet-weet.
Habits: Restricted to forests at montane and lower montane elevations, from 600 to 4,000 metres; also found in foothills at lower elevations, outside of breeding season. Best seen late in the morning, soaring high over the forest. Will hunt mammals and large birds from a perch at forest's edge.
BLYTH'S HAWK-EAGLE
Spizaetus alboniger 52 cm F: Accipitridae
Description: Note slaty-black plumage with barred underparts and tail; long crest visible at rest.
Voice: Various shrill whistles and high-pitched notes.
Habits: A lower montane rainforest specialist found from the foothills to 1,700 metres, usually between 600 and 1,200 metres. Seen circling low over the forest or sitting on a concealed perch just below canopy level, on the lookout for prey such as squirrels, birds and reptiles.
COLLARED FALCONET
Microhierax caerulescens 19 cm F: Falconidae
Description: Note full white neck; only falconet within its range.
Voice: No information.
Habits: Occurs in forest and along forest edges, often near rivers and clearings, from the lowlands to 1,800 metres, A lively and agile small raptor, often seen sitting on an open perch or flying out to catch insects in the air, mostly butterflies and moths taken at dusk. Also gleans insects and other small prey from foliage. The nest is built inside an abandoned woodpecker or barbet hole.
BLACK-THIGHED FALCONET
Microhierax fringillarius 15 cm F: Falconidae
Description: Distinguished from the White-fronted Falconet, M. latifrons, (endemic to Sabah, Malaysia) by its black (not white) forehead. The Philippines has an endemic member of this genus, the Philippine Falconet M. erythrogenys.
Voice: Piercing cries, yak yak yak.
Habits: Occurs in forest habitats, but is tolerant of disturbance and prefers clearings and forest edges with large trees, from the lowlands into lower montane elevations at 1,500 metres. This sparrow-size raptor is the smallest bird of prey in the world. Often sits in the open on a dead branch and flies out to catch various insects, making it fairly easy to see.
EURASIAN KESTREL
Falco tinnunculus 34 cm F: Falconidae
Description: Note pointed wings and black wing tips; male (photo) has grey head; female has more black spots on upperparts and a brown head.
Voice: Piercing cries, yak yak yak.
Habits: Mainly an open country species found in grassland, scrub fields and at the edge of villages. A strong flier that hovers for long periods in the air, while searching the ground; drops down to grab rodents and other small prey.
BLACK WOOD-PARTRIDGE
