Field Guide: Raptors in the Philippines Order Falconiformes Family Pandionidae Osprey Pandion haliaetus Habits: normally associated with water as it feeds exclusively on fish, which it catches by diving feet first into water with head between stretched legs; Description: distinctive black line through eye, bent wing, and dark wrist; long narrow wings with distinct bend at elbow; pale greenish grey legs. Call: a series of clear whistles cheep- cheep- cheep- cheeeep. Measurement: Total length–560 (22”); Wing Length–465; Tail Length–176; Bill Length–40; Tarsus Length–63; Wingspan–1350 (53”). ♀ averages larger than ♂. Range: Philippines (2 races) – haliaetus Luzon, Mactan, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Pujada, and Sarangani; melvillensis Balabac, Luzon, Marinduque, and Palawan. Status: CITES II, Migrant - Uncommon Family Accipitridae Barred honey buzzard Pernis celebensis “Buhag” (Pil) Habits: ranges primarily in lowland forest and forest edges below 1500 m. Secretive, tends to perch on dense part of tree crowns. imm Description: long wings, long neck, small head, streaked breast, barred belly, short legs and small feet; lores and around eye with small, grey scale-like feathers; Imm has a golden crown, dark grey face and long dark crest. Call: loud sharp whit weee-oooo or weee-oooo Measurement: Total Length – 558 (22”); Wing Length – 380; Tail Length – 255; Bill Length – 34; Tarsus Length – 40; Wingspan – 1320 (52”). ♀ averages larger than ♂. Range: Philippines (2 endemic races) – winkleri Catanduanes, Luzon, Marinduque (Gamauf and Preleuthner 1998), Polillo, and Sibuyan and possibly this race in Mindoro, Romblon, and Tablas; steerei Basilan, Bohol, Dinagat, Leyte, Masbate, Mindanao, Negros, Samar, Siargao, and Tawi-Tawi. imm Status: CITES II, Resident – Uncommon Oriental Honeybuzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus “Mamuhag” (Pil) Habits: common, but poorly known, seen soaring above or near forests below 1500 m. Feeds on ants and bees taken from nest and hives. Description: long slender “chicken neck”, long rounded tail, wings with translucent window at base of primaries, and finely streaked pale rufous under parts. Call: high-pitched wee-wey-uho or weehey-weehey. Measurement: Total Length–585 (23”); Wing Length–408; Tail Length–265; Bill Length–42; Tarsus Length–57; Wingspan–1420 (56”). ♀ averages larger than ♂. Range: Philippines – (3 races) palawanensis (endemic) Calauit and Palawan; philippensis (endemic) Basilan, Biliran (CMNH 33921), Catanduanes, Cebu, Leyte, philippensis Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay (Miranda et al. in press), and Samar; orientalis (migrant) Jolo, Luzon, Mindoro, and Negros. Status: CITES II, Resident/Migrant – Common 1 Field Guide: Raptors in the Philippines Order Falconiformes ♂ Family Accipitridae Eastern marsh-harrier Circus spilonotus sub-adult “Mamamalaka” (Pil) ♂ Habits: primarily in marshes and rice fields but also grasslands where it hunts low over the ground in buoyant flight with wings held in a slight V; opportunistic feeder preying on small mammals, frogs and birds. Description: adult ♂- head, neck, mantle, wing coverts and throat streaked black and white; face and back mostly black; upper tail coverts white forming a conspicuous patch. imm ♂- streaking in under parts replaced with brown; wings and tail similar to adults but with more distinct white rump. Call: generally silent Measurement: Total Length–535 (21”); Wing Length–416; Tail Length–237; Bill Length–35; Tarsus Length– 95; Wingspan–1220 (48”). ♀ averages larger than ♂. sub-adult ♂ Range: Philippines (1 race) – spilonotus Batan, Cagayan Sulu, Calayan, Jolo, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, and Palawan. Status: CITES II, Migrant – Uncommon ♂ ♀ Pied harrier Circus melanoleucos “Mamamalaka” (Pil) Habits: prefers drier open fields and grasslands; perches on ground or grassy embankment; often seen flying low over the ground looking for prey. Description: ♂- head, back, throat, breast, outer 6 primaries and median coverts (forming bar on wing) black; lesser wing coverts white forming large white patch on shoulder; ♀- head and nape streaked dark brown and white, wings and tail brown with broad silvery grey bars; Call: generally silent ♀ Measurement: Total Length–460 (18”); Wing Length–340; Tail Length – 210; Bill Length–28; Tarsus Length–75; Wingspan–1070 (42”). ♀ averages larger than ♂. Range (Monotypic): Philippines – Bantayan, Basilan, Biliran, Bohol, Calayan, Guimaras, Jolo, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay, Sibay and Ticao. Status: CITES II, Resident/Migrant – Uncommon ♂ Jerdon’s baza Aviceda jerdoni Habits: found alone or in pairs in forests and edges from lowlands to mid- elevations; sluggish flight, low over canopy; feeds on insects, frogs and lizards. Description: crown and neck reddish brown streaked with black; crest up to 60 mm long composed of 5 or 6 blackish brown feathers tipped white, throat white with black mesial streak; upper white breast; feathers with dark shafts; lower breast and belly whitish with broad light reddish brown bars. Call: plaintive heouuu or peeeew repeated. Measurement: Total Length–455 (18”); Wing Length–310; Tail Length–198; Bill Length–33; Tarsus Length–39; Wingspan–1090 (43”). ♀ averages larger than ♂. Range: Philippines – (1 race) magnirostris Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, and Samar. Status: CITES II, Resident – Uncommon 2 Field Guide: Raptors in the Philippines Order Falconiformes Family Accipitridae Brahminy kite Haliastur indus “Lawin” (Tag); “Banog” (Vis) Habits: common in open areas often near water, also in mountains to 1500 m. In flight, wings held forward and slightly bent at wrist. Description: adult has diagnostic contrasting white and rufous plumage with black sub-adult primaries. imm has buff head and reddish brown breast with pale shaft streaks. Call: distinctive nasal ah-a-eeehhh. Measurement: Total Length – 510 (20”); Wing Length – 416; Tail Length – 209; Bill imm Length – 36; Tarsus Length – 51; Wingspan – 1220 (48”). Range: Philippines (1 race) – intermedius Balukbaluk, Balut, Banga, Bantayan, Basilan, Biliran, Bohol, Bongao, Bucas, Buluan, Cabo, Cagayan Sulu, Calamianes, Calauit, Camotes, Carabao, Catanduanes, Calicoan, Cebu, Corregidor, Cuyo, Dinagat, Dungdung, Fatima, Guimaras, Jolo, Leyte, Lubang, Luzon, Mactan, Maestre de Campo, Malanipa, Manuk Manka, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Pata, Polillo, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Semirara, Siargao, Siasi, Sibutu, Sibuyan, Simaluc, Siquijor, Tablas, Tawi-Tawi, Ticao, Tres Islas, Tumindao, and West Bolod. Status: CITES II, Resident – Common Black-shouldered kite Elanus caeruleus “Pu-wik” (Pil) Habits: uncommon, in drier grasslands and scrub, singly or in pairs. Conspicuous, perched on exposed trees or flying over fields, often hovers. Description: adults have unmistakable white and light grey with conspicuous black shoulder. imm crown, wings, and breast tinged with brown or rufous, and wings and crown feathers edged in white. Call: a weak whistled wheep wheep. Measurement: Total Length – 370 (14½”); Wing Length – 290; Tail Length – 145; Bill Length – 26; Tarsus Length – 35; Wingspan – 1015 (40”). Range: Philippines (1 race) – hypoleucus Bantayan, Basilan, Bohol, Bongao, Burias, Busuanga, Catanduanes, Cebu, Guimaras, Jolo, Leyte, Loran, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay, Samar, Siasi, Sibuyan, Tawi-Tawi, and Ticao. Status: CITES II, Resident - Uncommon Black Kite Milvus migrans Habits: found in open country and along rivers, most often seen flying in buoyant, graceful flight singly or in small groups. Description: all dark with long slender wings and long forked tail. Adults’ head, neck upper back and breast brown, feathers with dark brown shaft narrowly bordered by buff. Imm underpart feathers have wedge-shaped pale tips, heavily streaked with buff. Call: a vibrant kuee ee ee eeee often followed by a chatter. Measurementt: Total Length – 610 (24”); Wing Length – 494; Tail Length – 316; Bill Length – 40; Tarsus Length – 58; Wingspan – 1470 (58”). Range: Philippines (1 race) – lineatus Palawan (one record on 1 Dec 1907 at Ihawig). Status: CITES II, Migrant - Accidental 3 Field Guide: Raptors in the Philippines Order Falconiformes Family Accipitridae Grey-headed fish-eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus imm “Alak-ak” (Pil) Habits: found in freshwater marshes, lakes and rivers through forests and remote forest-rimmed bays. Description: adult has a white tail with broad dark terminal bands. Note long neck and legs; immature has a pale reddish brown breast with buff shafts streaks and white belly. Call: unique cackling/yodeling concluded by loud aaawwwwwwhhhhhh. Measurement: Total Length – 660 (26”); Wing Length – 465; Tail Length – 242; Bill Length – 55; Tarsus Length – 80; Wingspan – 1620 (64”). Range (Monotypic): Philippines – Basilan, Bongao, Calamianes, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, and Samar. Status: CITES II, Vulnerable, Resident – Rare White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster “Agila” (Tag); “Manaol” (Vis) Habits: found along the coasts and especially on remote offshore islands, large lakes and rivers. Soars with wings held forward and in slight dihedral. Description: adult - unmistakable with white under parts contrasted by dark flight feathers; imm- diagnostic wedge-shaped tail and all brown under parts. Call: noisy, loud honk-like cackling. Measurement: Total Length –760 (30”); Wing Length–555; Tail Length–265; Bill imm Length–52; Tarsus Length–98; Wingspan–1880 (74”). ♀ averages larger than ♂. Range (Monotypic): Philippines – Balukbaluk, Balut, Bancoran, Banga,