Philippine honey buzzard | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Accipitriformes |
Family: | Accipitridae |
Genus: | Pernis |
Species: | P. steerei |
Binomial name | |
Pernis steerei WL Sclater, 1919 | |
Subspecies [2] | |
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Synonyms | |
Pernis celebensis winkleriGamauf & Preleuthner, 1998 Contents |
The Philippine honey buzzard (Pernis steerei) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to forested lowlands of the Philippines, with the exception of Palawan.
The body ranges from 52.5 cm to 55.3 cm in males and 52 cm to 59 cm in females; [3] the wingspan is 2.1 times total length. [4]
From above, the tail and broad rounded wings appear umber mingled with white; from below, both are pale and dark-banded, including a broad terminal band on the tail. The chest, belly and head are white and streaked, or pale to cream in juveniles. A dark brown crest extends from the back of the head and distinguishes P. steerei from P. celebensis, alongside paler plumage on the head and back. [4] Eyes sport a bright golden iris in adults and a brown line running through from the beak to the back of the head. Raptorial dark grey beak and yellow legs, with claws averaging 20 to 22 cm. [3] As expected from its short tarsus, narrow bill and square-cut tail, [5] three indicators of foraging strategy, P. steerei is either seen perched upright on large branches or soaring.
Subspecies P. s. winkleri displays more typical raptorial sexual dimorphism than nominate P. s. steerei, as well as a juvenile-like homogenous brown plumage. [3]
P. steerei is one of four species of honey-buzzards in Pernis . The common name of the genus likely stems from their diet of bee and wasp larvae.
Originally considered a subspecies of Pernis celebensis , [3] [4] the Philippine honey-buzzard was recently recognised as its own species in light of mitochondrial DNA evidence [6] showing 3.3% genetic distance [7] between the two birds. A split had been proposed even earlier, as authors noted the stark differences in plumage and geographic isolation between the barred and Philippine honey-buzzards. [4] A previous subspecies of P. celebensis, P. c. winkleri, was simultaneously recognised as belonging under P. steerei alongside the nominal P. s. steerei. [6]
A very short time saw P. steerei labelled Steere's honey-buzzard [8] before Gamauf & Haring's split [6] was popularised and, with it, the name Philippine honey-buzzard.
The species is endemic to all Philippine islands barring Palawan. [9] Individuals are typically seen in lowland primary or secondary rainforests from 90 to 1550 meter above sea level, [3] favouring areas of high tree cover in which they can soar above the canopy; [5] as these forests continue to undergo extensive logging, the species faces severe habitat loss.
The two subspecies are sedentary [4] and geographically isolated, [3] with winkleri observed in the northern islands (mainly Luzon, but also Polillo, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Sibuyan and Romblon) and steerei further south in Samar, Negros, Siargao, Mindanao, Basilan, Leyte, Tablas, Bohol, Tawitawi, Dinagat, Masbate and Panay. [8]
This range is shared with two subspecies of the crested honey-buzzard; P. p. philippensis, a year-long resident, and winter visitor P. p. orientalis. Both can be distinguished from P. steerei by their red eyes and smaller to non-existent crests. [9]
Honey-buzzards are generally quiet outside the breeding season, [4] though one- or two-toned whistle-like calls are occasionally recorded.
As typical of a honey-buzzard, the diet of P. steerei mainly consists of wasp and bee larvae (or potentially pupae and adults [4] ), with regular additions of small nestlings, lizards and perhaps frogs. [5] They hunt by soaring or sitting, perched on a large branch, waiting for prey; sister species P. celebensis is known to follow and catch hymenopterans in flight. [4] Like their congeners, they armor themselves against retaliatory stings with dense, stiff plumage.
Two hiking researchers recorded a Philippine honey-buzzard in presumed display flight above the canopy in Panay, [8] reporting a pattern similar to that of the European honey-buzzard. The describe the bird flying incrementally upwards from a soar, gaining 30 m vertically, where it would then extend its wings and repeatedly quiver them above its back, striking the tips together. The motion, characteristic of genus Pernis, held the honey-buzzard in the air for a short time, after which it would dive down sharply, wings kept close to its body, and repeat the entire maneuver twice more before returning to normal flight.
Little more is known of their reproductive behaviour, apart from eggs documented in February. [4] Honey-buzzards typically time their brood so as to rear young in periods of high abundance in bees and wasps. [4]
Sightings of P. celebensis and P. steerei include lone individuals and pairs. [5] Couples are observed high-circling and talon-grasping.
Its natural habitat is moist tropical primary lowland forest and montane forest up to 2,000 meters above sea level but is most often seen below 1,400 meters.
The IUCN has assessed this species as least concern, the population is believed to be declining due to deforestation from land conversion, Illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming. This species also experiences hunting pressure for both meat and the pet trade. [10]
The common buzzard is a medium-to-large bird of prey which has a large range. It is a member of the genus Buteo in the family Accipitridae. The species lives in most of Europe and extends its breeding range across much of the Palearctic as far as northwestern China, far western Siberia and northwestern Mongolia. Over much of its range, it is a year-round resident. However, buzzards from the colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere as well as those that breed in the eastern part of their range typically migrate south for the northern winter, many journeying as far as South Africa.
The Accipitridae is one of the three families within the order Accipitriformes, and is a family of small to large birds of prey with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a few feeding on fruit. The Accipitridae have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found on all the world's continents and a number of oceanic island groups. Some species are migratory. The family contains 256 species which are divided into 12 subfamilies and 75 genera.
The European honey buzzard, also known as the pern or common pern, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
Buzzard is the common name of several species of birds of prey.
The Eurasian hobby or just hobby, is a small, slim falcon. It belongs to a rather close-knit group of similar falcons often considered a subgenus Hypotriorchis.
The raptor subfamily Perninae includes a number of medium-sized broad-winged species. These are birds of warmer climates, although the Pernis species have a more extensive range.
The crested honey buzzard is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles, and harriers. Pernis ptilorhynchus has six subspecies. As a medium-sized raptor, their size ranges between 57–60 cm (22–24 in). They are also known as the Oriental, Asiatic, or Eastern honey buzzard. The name is derived from its diet, which consists mainly of the larvae of bees and wasps extracted from honey combs.
The changeable hawk-eagle(Nisaetus cirrhatus) or crested hawk-eagle is a large bird of prey species of the family Accipitridae. More informal or antiquated English common names include the marsh hawk-eagle or Indian crested hawk-eagle. It is a member of the subfamily Aquilinae, with signature feathers, absent in tropical raptors from outside this subfamily, covering the tarsus. It was formerly placed in the genus Spizaetus, but studies pointed to the group being paraphyletic resulting in the Old World members being placed in Nisaetus and separated from the New World species. It is a typical “hawk-eagle” in that it is an agile forest-dwelling predator and like many such eagles readily varies its prey selection between birds, mammals or reptiles as well as other vertebrates. Among the members of its genus, the changeable hawk-eagle stands out as the most widely distributed, adaptable and abundant species. Individuals show a wide range of variation in plumage from pale to dark, varying with moult and age giving rise to the name "changeable".
The long-legged buzzard is a bird of prey found widely in several parts of Eurasia and in North Africa. This species ranges from Southeastern Europe down to East Africa to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The long-legged buzzard is a member of the genus Buteo, being one of the larger species therein. This species is simultaneously considered relatively powerful and aggressive for its taxonomic group as well as a relatively sluggish raptor overall. Like most buzzards, it prefers small mammals such as rodents, including gerbils, ground squirrels, voles and rats, also taking reptiles, birds and insects as well as carrion. Adaptable to a variety of habitats, long-legged buzzards may nest on a variety of surfaces, including rocks, cliffs and trees. it is a typical buzzard in its reproductive biology. The long-legged buzzard is widely distributed and appears to be quite stable in population. Therefore, it is considered as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Spizaetus is the typical hawk-eagle birds of prey genus found in the tropics of the Americas. It was however used to indicate a group of tropical eagles that included species occurring in southern and southeastern Asia and one representative of this genus in the rainforests of West Africa. The Old World species have been separated into the genus Nisaetus. Several species have a prominent head crest. These are medium to large-sized raptors, most being between 55 and 75 cm long, and tend to be long-tailed and slender.
Geranoaetus is a genus of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. It contains these species: Geranoaetus are large birds. Their wing span is about 70-80 in and their total length is 25-30 in.
The augur buzzard is a fairly large African bird of prey. This species is distinct in typical adult plumage for its blackish back, whitish underside and orange-red tail, while juvenile augur buzzards are generally rather brown in colour; however a dark morph is known, which causes the bird's entire body to become darker. This member of the Buteo genus is distributed in several parts of the central and southern Africa, normally being found from Ethiopia to southern Angola and central Namibia. It is resident and non-migratory throughout its range. This is a species of mountains, and adjacent savannah and grassland. This is a typical buteonine raptor, being a generalist predator which tends to prefer small mammals supplemented by reptiles and birds among various prey items.
The black honey buzzard, also known as the New Britain honey buzzard, is a large raptor of the family Accipitridae. Standing at around 50 cm (20 in) tall, the adult black honey buzzard has a dark head and body, with striking white bands on its tail and flight feathers. When in flight, the buzzard can be recognized by its long wings and noticeably large secondary feathers. It is thought to be sedentary, with a range limited to the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, where it is endemic. Due to its remote habitat and tendency to remain in densely forested areas, there is still much to learn about this striking species.
The barred honey buzzard or Sulawesi honey buzzard is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
Cassin's hawk-eagle or Cassin's eagle, is a relatively small eagle in the family Accipitridae. Its feathered legs mark it as member of the Aquilinae or booted eagle subfamily. A forest-dependent species, it occurs in primary rainforests across western, central and (marginally) eastern Africa where it preys on birds and tree squirrels. It was named after John Cassin who first described it in 1865. Due to widespread habitat destruction, its populations are steadily declining but have not yet warranted upgrading its status from Least Concern.
The Philippine hawk-eagle or north Philippine hawk-eagle, earlier treated under Spizaetus, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Many taxonomists consider the Pinsker's hawk-eagle, a former subspecies, raised to full species status. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping.
The Philippine falconet is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae, genus Microhierax. It is endemic to the lowland forests of Philippines, and can often be seen near open forest edges hunting flying insects. Philippine falconets nest in woodpecker holes of dead trees, and can be seen fairly commonly within their suitable habitats. Although the Philippine falconet population is declining due to habitat loss, it is still evaluated as "Least Concern" globally.
Pernis is a genus of birds in the raptor subfamily Perninae. Its members are commonly known as honey buzzards. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek pernesπερνης, a term used by Aristotle for a bird of prey.
The variable hawk is a polymorphic species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
Pinsker's hawk-eagle, south Philippine hawk-eagle or Mindanao hawk-eagle, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to the Philippines native to the islands of Leyte, Samar, Negros, Basilan, Bohol and Mindanao. It is found in primary moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest up to 1,900 m. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting. IUCN estimates just 600–800 mature birds left.