Philippine eagle

The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the monkey-eating eagle or great Philippine eagle, is a critically endangered species of eagle of the family Accipitridae which is endemic to forests in the Philippines. This majestic bird has brown and white-colored plumage, a shaggy crest, and measures between 86 to 102 cm (2.82 to 3.35 ft) in length, weighing between 4.04 to 8.0 kg (8.9 to 17.6 lb).

The Philippine eagle is considered the largest of the existing eagles in the world in terms of length and wing surface area. Only the Steller's sea eagle and the Harpy eagle are larger when it comes to weight and bulk. It has been declared the national bird of the Philippines and appears on the Philippine one thousand-peso note.

Unfortunately, this impressive bird faces serious threats. The most significant danger is the loss of its forest habitat because of deforestation. The Philippine eagle is one of the most endangered raptors in the world, and its population continues to decline. Since 2019, more than 20 eagles have been rescued, often injured from gunshot wounds. Protecting these birds is very important, and killing a Philippine eagle is a criminal offence, punishable by up to 12 years' imprisonment and heavy fines.

Names

The Philippine eagle has many different names in the languages of the Philippines. In Tagalog, it is called bánoy or ágila, which comes from the Spanish word for eagle. In the Visayan languages, it is known as manaul or manaol. Other names include manaol or garuda in Maranao and Maguindanao, and mam-boogook or malamboogook in several other languages. Today, many people in the Philippines call it háribon, a name that means "bird king." Some of these names are also used for other large eagles.

Taxonomy

The first European to study the Philippine eagle was an explorer named John Whitehead in 1896. He observed the bird, and a specimen was collected and sent to London for study.

Originally, the bird was called the monkey-eating eagle because local people thought it only ate monkeys. We now know it eats many other animals too, like snakes and large birds. Because of this mix-up, the bird was later renamed the Philippine eagle in 1978. It became a symbol of the Philippines in 1995.

Description

The Philippine eagle has a distinctive appearance with long, brown feathers on its neck forming a shaggy crest. Its face is dark, while the back is dark brown and the underside is white. This eagle has powerful yellow legs with large, dark claws, and a strong, bluish-gray beak. Its eyes are a striking blue-gray color.

On average, the Philippine eagle measures about 95 cm (3 ft 1 in) for males and 105 cm (3 ft 5 in) for females, making it one of the longest living eagles today. It has a wingspan of up to 220 cm (7 ft 3 in), though its wings are shorter than those of some other large eagles that live in open areas. The eagle's loud, high-pitched whistles are its most common calls, and young eagles make high-pitched sounds when asking for food.

Distribution and habitat

The Philippine eagle lives only in the Philippines, mainly on four big islands: eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. Most of these eagles are on Mindanao, with around 82 to 233 pairs, while fewer live on the other islands.

These eagles prefer to live in special forests called dipterocarp and mid montane forests, especially in steep areas. They can be found from low lands up to mountains higher than 1,800 m (5,900 ft). Sadly, there is only about 9,220 km² of the old forests they need left in their home range.

Ecology and behavior

The Philippine eagle lives in forests in the Philippines, where it is the top hunter. These eagles eat many types of animals, including birds, reptiles, and small mammals like colugos. They need big areas of forest to find food and raise their young, making them very sensitive to deforestation.

Philippine eagles fly quickly and smoothly, similar to smaller hawks. Young eagles learn by playing, grabbing tree knots with their talons and practicing balance and hunting on their own without help from adults. In the wild, these eagles can live between 30 to 60 years, though captive birds might live longer.

Conservation

The Philippine eagle is listed as critically endangered. In 1994, experts believed there were between 180 and 500 eagles left in the wild, and by 2015, this number was estimated to be around 600. The main threats to these eagles are the loss of their forest homes due to logging and farming, as well as mining, pollution, and pesticides.

Efforts to protect the Philippine eagle began in 1969. Since then, organizations like the Philippine Eagle Foundation have worked to breed eagles in safe places and release them into the wild. Unfortunately, some released eagles have faced dangers such as being trapped or harmed by human activities. Despite these challenges, conservation work continues, with new forests being protected for the eagles to live in. Researchers are also studying the eagles’ behavior and population to better understand how to help them survive.

Cultural significance

The Philippine eagle holds a special place in Filipino culture. In ancient Bisaya folklore, a legendary bird called the Manaul, which inspired the name for the Philippine eagle, was said to have helped create the islands by dropping boulders into the sea.

The Philippine eagle became the official national bird of the Philippines on July 4, 1995. Because of its impressive size and rare status, it is a favorite among birdwatchers. The eagle has appeared on many Philippine stamps, coins, and banknotes over the years. It is also used as a mascot in sports, like in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in Manila and on the logo of the Philippines men's national basketball team.

Conservation efforts have made progress, with the first successful captive breeding happening in 1992 at the Philippine Eagle Foundation in Davao City. As of 2025, this facility has successfully bred the eagle 31 times.