Javan hawk-eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi)

Description

Javan hawk-eagle fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Javan hawk-eagle description

This majestic and intricately patterned eagle has a long, black crest on its head; this crest is held almost vertically and is tipped with white. The crown is black, topping a chestnut head and nape. The back and wings are dark brown, fading to a lighter brown tail which has wide cream stripes. The throat is creamy white with a black stripe, running to the whitish breast and underparts, which are heavily barred with chestnut. Juvenile birds are similar in colour, but have plainer underparts and a duller head ⁽²⁾.

Spanish

Aguila-azor de Java.

Size

Length: 60 cm ⁽²⁾

Javan hawk-eagle biology

A monogamous species, Javan hawk-eagles remain with the same partner year after year, mating between January and June. Nesting in trees, just one egg is laid each year. The female incubates the egg for 47 days, during which time the male hunts to feed both himself and the female. After hatching, the female also hunts, providing the chick with meat for a relatively extended period. Even after fledging, the young bird will remain with its parents, living in their territory for more than a year. It will be three or four years before it forms a pair and breeds ⁽⁴⁾.

The Javan hawk-eagle hunts mainly from the branches of small trees, where it watches for small to medium-sized tree-dwelling mammals such as tree shrews, squirrels, fruit bats and occasionally young monkeys. It is also known to eat birds and reptiles when possible ⁽⁵⁾.

Javan hawk-eagle range

Endemic to Indonesia, the Javan hawk-eagle is restricted to the remaining patches of forest on the island of Java ⁽²⁾.

Javan hawk-eagle habitat

Normally inhabiting primary humid forest, the Javan hawk-eagle has also been recorded in secondary forest, production forest and tropical semi-deciduous forest. It is found at all altitudes, but is most common between 500 and 1,000 metres above sea level ⁽²⁾.

Javan hawk-eagle status

The Javan hawk-eagle is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List 2007 ⁽¹⁾ and is listed on Appendix II of CITES ⁽³⁾.

Javan hawk-eagle threats

Habitat loss caused the initial decline of this bird, as the increasing human population of Java relies heavily on the natural resources of their island, particularly its forests. Conversion to agriculture, urban development and uncontrolled fire, even in protected areas resulted in a sharp decline that prompted the Indonesian government to promote the Javan hawk-eagle to the status of ‘national bird’. However, this move rebounded, as trade in the species multiplied in response to its new significance and consequential desirability ⁽²⁾.

Javan hawk-eagle conservation

The range and population of this species have been surveyed, revealing its presence in Gunung Haliman, Gunung Gede-Pangrango and Meru Betiri National Parks. However, despite the strict legislation protecting the eagle from hunting and trading, it faces serious problems through ineffective enforcement of the law. An action plan has been compiled and conservation awareness programmes have begun. The action plan suggests that thorough ecological studies are performed to allow the implementation of management plans. Nest-guarding is being seriously considered as an option to enforce legislation protecting this beautiful species ⁽²⁾.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For further information on the Javan hawk-eagle see:

• BirdLife International. (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.

To find out more about Javan hawk-eagle conservation projects, see:

•  Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
  http://www.speciesconservation.org/projects/Javan-Hawk-Eagle/917

Authentication

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Glossary

Deciduous

A plant that sheds its leaves at the end of the growing season.

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Monogamous

Having only one mate during a breeding season, or throughout the breeding life of a pair.

Primary forest

Forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.

Secondary forest

Regenerating forest that has not yet reached the mature state of primary forest.

Territory

Area occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony.

References

1. IUCN Red List (May, 2008)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. BirdLife International (March, 2005)
   http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3554&m=0
3. CITES (March, 2005)
   http://www.cites.org
4. Nijman, V., Van Balen, S. and Sozer, R. (2000) Breeding biology of Javan hawk-eagle Spizaetus bartelsi in West Java, Indonesia. Emy, 100: 125 - 132.
5. BirdLife International. (2001) Threatened Birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.