Black Eagle

Overview

The black eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis) is a large but slender bird of prey and the only member of the genus Ictinaetus. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is found across tropical and subtropical South and Southeast Asia.

Identification

• Adults possess all-black plumage with contrasting yellow cere and feet, while juveniles feature a buff head and underparts.
• Characterised by a distinctive silhouette with long wings that are pinched at the innermost flight feathers, held in a shallow V during slow flight.
• Measures approximately 75 cm in length with a wingspan of 148–182 cm, though it is relatively lightweight at 1,000–1,600 g.
• Features widely splayed long primary 'fingers' and fully feathered tarsi with stout toes and long claws.

Habitat

This species inhabits forests in hilly regions, favouring areas with good forest cover and typically avoiding areas with less than 50% cover. Its range extends across the Himalayan foothills, the Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Southeast Asia into the Indonesian Archipelago. It is generally resident throughout its distribution with no observed migration.

Diet

The black eagle primarily consumes mammals, birds, and eggs, acting as a prolific nest-predator that hunts by soaring just above the canopy. Its wide gape and curved claws enable it to extract eggs and swiftlets from nests or caves, and it shares the unique habit of carrying away entire nests with nestlings.

Did you know?

Due to its exceptional ability to remain aloft for long periods with minimal effort, the Lepcha people of India's Darjeeling district described it as 'the bird that never sat down'.