New Guinea Eagle Harpyopsis novaeguineae Scientific name definitions
- VU Vulnerable
- Names (20)
- Monotypic
Text last updated September 7, 2017
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Catalan | àguila de Nova Guinea |
Czech | orel harpyjovitý |
Dutch | Harpijarend |
English | New Guinea Eagle |
English (United States) | New Guinea Eagle |
French | Harpie de Nouvelle-Guinée |
French (France) | Harpie de Nouvelle-Guinée |
German | Papuaadler |
Indonesian | Rajawali papua |
Japanese | パプアオウギワシ |
Norwegian | papuaørn |
Polish | harpia papuaska |
Russian | Новогвинейская гарпия |
Serbian | Novogvinejski orao |
Slovak | harpya novoguinejská |
Spanish | Arpía Papú |
Spanish (Spain) | Arpía papú |
Swedish | papuaörn |
Turkish | Papua Kartalı |
Ukrainian | Гарпія новогвінейська |
Harpyopsis novaeguineae Salvadori, 1875
Definitions
- HARPYOPSIS
- novaeguinae / novaeguineae / novaeguineensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Field Identification
72–90 cm (1); 1600–2400 g (1); wingspan 121–157 cm (2). Large forest eagle , brownish and creamy in all plumages (1), with erectile crest and facial ruff on prominent head, short wings, large eyes, deep bill and long bare legs (1); proportioned like giant Accipiter. Perches upright with long, round-tipped tail (4–5 blackish bars) held characteristically curving forward (1). In size, matched only by short-tailed Haliaeetus leucogaster and very dark brown Aquila gurneyi, but in plumage similar to smaller Henicopernis longicauda and Megatriorchis doriae (from which distinguished by unstreaked breast ) (1). Female larger than male, by up to 34% and probably even heavier (1). Iris pale brown or orange (but red in very old male), cere blackish, legs brownish-grey to dull orange (unknown whether differences age- or sex-related) (1). Juvenile similar, but washed brown on underparts; eyes brownish and bill greyer (1); tail has more and narrower bars.
Systematics History
Subspecies
Distribution
New Guinea.
Habitat
Rain forest from sea-level to 3200 m (mainly below 2000 m, but perhaps up to 3700 m (1, 3) ); local in gallery forest, in woodland and monsoon scrub. Largely confined to undisturbed primary forest, but visits nearby clearings and native gardens. Nests in forest. Mean home-range size of 5 birds followed in Papua New Guinea 13·0 ± 3·9 km2 (4).
Movement
Presumably sedentary, aside from dispersal movements by juveniles (1).
Diet and Foraging
Mainly terrestrial and arboreal mammals, including cuscus (Phalanger), possums (Pseudocheirus), wallabies (Dorcopsis, Dorcopsulus, Thylogale), tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus), giant rats (Mallomys, Uromys), young dogs and pigs; anecdotal report of small child being attacked (1). Also birds and reptiles, including snakes and monitor lizards (Varanus) (5). Ten prey items identified at Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea, in 1998–99 consisted of 6 forest wallabies (Dorcopsulus sp.) and 1 each ringtail possum (Pseudocheiridae), Dwarf Cassowary (Casuarius bennetti), New Guinea Scrubfowl (Megapodius decollatus) and fruit-dove (Ptilinopus sp.) (4); 29 prey items identified in same area in 2003–04 comprised of 15 cuscus, 4 wallabies, 3 megapodes, and 1 each snake, lizard, monotreme, ringtail possum, cassowary, Papuan (Blyth's) Hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus) and pigeon (6). Contrary to some reports, all foraging diurnal, and species does not soar to hunt. Forages from series of perches in forest canopy: searches for several minutes, peering about and using facial ruff to assist in detection of prey by sound; if prey not detected, flies 50–60 m through canopy, as far as 1500 m low over canopy, to new perch (4). Swoops from perch onto prey below, if necessary pursuing it by running and leaping along ground. Also clambers among branches for arboreal prey; flushes prey from arboreal nests in epiphytes by striking with wings or tearing epiphytes apart with feet; shakes foliage to induce mammals to peer from hollows; uses feet to extract prey from holes.
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Described as extraordinary and far-carrying; a low, staccato "uumpph" likened to a hiccup or taut bowstring, repeated irregularly and sometimes followed by a loud, chicken-like "buk-buk-buk" or deep resonant sound; pairs sometimes duet, including occasionally at night; a high-pitched weak call has also been mentioned (1).
Breeding
Apparently from late wet season through dry season (austral autumn to spring; Apr–Nov (1) ): specimen in breeding condition in Jun; active nest Apr–May; large nestling late Aug. Builds large stick nest high in emergent tree (e.g. Eugenia, Syzygium, Aglaia) with no low branches, sometimes atop cluster of epiphytes (6). Six nests at Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area placed 30–35 m above ground in large emergent trees that ranged from 67–111 cm DBH, the nest trees amidst large blocks of contiguous forest (6). Nest may be used for many years. Several records of single nestlings or fledglings (1, 6). Perhaps only breeds every two years (1). Longevity more than 30 years in captivity. No further information.
Conservation Status
VULNERABLE. CITES II. Low population density and apparently low reproductive rate; few detailed observations by ornithologists, and biology poorly known. Global population size roughly estimated to be 3500–15,000 individuals, and trend suspected to be downward. Plumes avidly sought by natives armed with shotguns (4). Now rare or absent in areas of heavy (illegal) hunting pressure; also threatened by deforestation in lowlands.