Philippine Eagle
What is the scientific name of the animal?
Pithecophaga jefferyi
What is their conservation level?
Critically Endagered
Are they critically endangered?
Yes, they are listed as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with an estimated number of only 400 pairs left in the wild.
Fun Facts about the animal to draw interest.
Blue-grey eyes
7 ft wing span
3 ft height
Powerful talons
Monogamous and couples remain together for the rest of their lives
Philippine eagles engage in pair hunting.
The Philippine Eagle was named the national bird of the Philippines in 1995.
The Philippine Eagle is one of the rarest birds in the world, with an estimated population
of fewer than than 500 individuals.
The Philippine Eagle was the official mascot for the Southeast Asian Games competition
in 2005.
General information: Habitat, Eating Habits, Life Span, etc.
The Philippine Eagle pair needs about 4000-11000 hectares of forest land to thrive in the
wild, depending on the number of prey items in the area.
They typically nest on large dipterocarp trees like the native species Lauan.
They can live up to 40+ years in captivity but probably much less in the wild
They take 5-7 years to sexually mature.
It only lays a single egg every two years.
Philippine Eagles are solitary and territorial creatures.
Though previously known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, this is a misnomer. Philippine
Eagles do eat monkeys, but they also prey on a whole host of animals, both large and
small. They have been known to hunt bats, civets, flying squirrels, and macaques. They
also eat birds, including other birds of prey, snakes and lizards. The diet of a Philippine
Eagle varies depending on the island it lives on. Prey found in abundance on one island
might be scarce or nonexistent on another.
Philippine Eagles construct huge stick nests that they build high in the main fork of a
tree, often on a platform of ferns and orchids. Every other year, the female lays one large
white egg, which must be incubated for about 2 months.
Why do they matter and what makes them important?
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
As the species on top of the food chain, the Philippine Eagle has a crucial role to play in
keeping the gentle balance of the ecosystem in check. It helps naturally regulate species
population and provide an umbrella of protection to all other life forms in its territory. An
abundant Philippine Eagle population means signifies a healthy forest.
A HERITAGE
This rare and majestic bird species can be found nowhere else but in the Philippines.
Losing the species to extinction would also mean the world losing a precious biological heritage.
LIVELIHOOD
Ensuring the safety of the Philippine Eagle population in the upland areas can result to
additional source of income for the marginalized communities sharing the forest with the eagles
through our biodiversity-friendly initiatives. These projects are funded to strengthen
conservation efforts in areas where Philippine Eagles occur.
CULTURAL IMPACT
Conservation efforts also bring positive cultural outcomes to many indigenous
communities in the upland areas. The Philippine Eagle is embedded in the oral histories and
other cultural artifacts of several indigenous groups in the country. This indicates that it performs
a role in the human production of unique cultures.
How can humans help?
References
The Foundation | PEF. (2018). PEF. https://www.philippineeaglefoundation.org/the-foundation
Philippine Eagle | The Peregrine Fund. (2020). Peregrinefund.org.
https://peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/eagles/philippine-
eagle#:~:text=Philippine%20Eagles%20do%20eat%20monkeys,of%20prey%2C
%20snakes%20and%20lizards.
