Blyth's Hawk Eagle

Blyth's hawk-eagle can be found in the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sumatra and Borneo. It is a bird of open woodland, although island forms prefer a higher tree density. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays a single egg.

It is a fairly small eagle at about (20–24 in) in length. The adult has a thick white band on uppertail and undertail, all black above, black spotted breast, barred below. It has a prominent crest like the bazas. Juvenile is dark brown above, and has a light brown head and underparts.

The common name commemorates Edward Blyth (1810–1873), English zoologist and Curator of the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

Distribution and habitat

It breeds in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo.

Hunting

Blyth’s Hawk Eagles eat small mammals, birds, lizards, and bats.

Conservation status

The population is decreasing due to slash and burn agriculture and deforestation, but the decline is not greater than 30% over ten years or three generations, which is the threshold for Vulnerable status. The bird is currently listed as Least Concern by BirdLife International.