Kamal Ghorui
The monkey-eating bird is the common nickname for the Pithecophaga jefferyi, better known as the Philippine eagle. The name came from early reports that the bird hunted monkeys in the forests where it lives. The bird is regarded as one of the biggest eagles in the world by length and wingspan. Adults can stand about one metre tall and stretch close to two metres across the wings. Fewer than 500 mature birds are believed to remain in the wild. The species is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Habitat loss, hunting and forest degradation continue to reduce its numbers, especially in lowland areas where logging and farming have expanded.
The Philippine ‘monkey-eating bird’ is an apex predator in its ecosystem
The Philippine eagle hunts during daylight hours. It feeds on monkeys, flying squirrels, civets, bats and snakes. On some islands, it also takes birds and reptiles, depending on what is available.
- In terms of size, it ranks among the largest eagles in the world by length. Adults measure between 2.5 and 3.3 feet, or roughly 76 to 102 centimetres, from head to tail.
- The average wingspan is about 6.5 feet, close to 1.9 metres. Some individuals may appear broader in flight depending on feather spread and age.
- Weight varies between 10 and 18 pounds, equivalent to 4.5 to 8.1 kilograms. Females are generally larger and heavier than males, which is typical for birds of prey.
- Its long claws, which measure around 7.6 centimetres, help it grip prey in the thick forest canopy.
Philippine eagle’s habitat is limited to shrinking primary forest
Although the Philippines has more than 7,000 islands, the Philippine eagle occupies only a small part of that range. It depends largely on the primary dipterocarp forest. These tall, dense forests provide nesting trees and space to hunt. The birds patrol territories that can cover more than 100 square kilometres.Lowland forest once offered ideal conditions. Much of it has been cleared. In recent decades, the eagles have been pushed towards steeper mountain slopes where logging is less intense. Even there, mining, road building and small-scale clearing create gaps. The forest does not recover quickly.
Breeding cycle slows population recovery
Philippine eagles form long-term pair bonds and build large stick nests high in tall trees. Females usually lay one egg every two years. Both parents incubate the egg for about 60 days and continue feeding the chick for months after hatching.Young birds stay with their parents for up to half a year. Sexual maturity may not come until age seven. This slow breeding pattern makes recovery difficult when adults are lost.Conservation work began in the 1970s. Protection laws, habitat controls and captive breeding programmes are in place. Even so, numbers remain low, and monitoring across remote forest areas is uneven. The Philippine eagle remains a national symbol, but its future still depends on intact forests.
