Flores Hawk-Eagle
The Flores Hawk-Eagle ( Nisaetus floris, syn. Spizaetus floris ) is a rare bird of prey in the genus Nisaetus. He was formerly considered a subspecies of the Crested Eagle ( Nisaetus cirrhatus ), but is considered a distinct species since 2004.
Features
With a length of 71-82 centimeters of Flores Hawk-Eagle is the largest species within the genus of hawk eagle. The wingspan is 140 to 160 inches, and the tail length of 26 to 30 centimeters. The females are 10 percent larger than males. In the adult bird head, underparts, rump and the primaries bases are white. The jacket and the back are black and brown. The wings are long. A hood does not exist. In Flight image the female sometimes has a fine banding on pants and under wing-coverts. The tail shows five or six napkins and a sharply defined Subterminalbinde. The young birds see the adult birds similar, but have a more diffuse tail band.
Occurrence and habitat
The Flores Hawk-Eagle occurs in the Lesser Sunda Islands Lombok (especially in the Rinjani National Park ), Sumbawa, Flores, Rinca and Satonda. Reports from the islands Palu'e and Komodo are not confirmed. Its habitat is lowland rain forests, adjoining plantations and submontane woodland at altitudes up to 1600 m.
System
The Flores Hawk-Eagle was a few years ago along with the other Asian hood eagles, one African and two South American species in the genus Spizaetus combined ( see Article Aquilinae ). However, this genus in this composition is not preserved by recent molecular genetic studies. The Asian species of the genus, however, form a well-founded monophyletic group and were therefore placed in a separate genus Nisaetus.
Reproduction
Little is known about the reproductive behavior of the pile - cap eagle. The breeding season takes place during the dry season. Balzflüge and Begattungsverhalten were observed in June and July 2003 on Flores.
Food
The diet consists of small and medium-sized mammals ( rats, squirrels and hares), birds, reptiles (snakes and lizards ) and frogs. Occasionally they also beat house chickens in villages.
Inventory and risk
BirdLife International estimates the population to less than 100 pairs. In 2005, the nature of the IUCN was " severely compromised " classified in the category. Because of the bad stock situation she was " threatened with extinction " promoted in the 2009 class. The main hazard is considered habitat loss. Usable habitat is available only on an area of 40 km ². Other causes of the rarity of these eagles are the hunting as alleged pests and illegal cage bird trade in Indonesia.