New Guinea Eagle Harpyopsis novaeguineae Scientific name definitions

72–90 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); 1600–2400 g (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); wingspan 121–157 cm (2 Pratt, T. K., and B. M. Beehler (2015) Birds of New Guinea. Second edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ). Large forest eagle , brownish and creamy in all plumages (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), with erectile crest and facial ruff on prominent head, short wings, large eyes, deep bill and long bare legs (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); proportioned like giant Accipiter. Perches upright with long, round-tipped tail (4–5 blackish bars) held characteristically curving forward (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). 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 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female larger than male, by up to 34% and probably even heavier (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). 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 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile similar, but washed brown on underparts; eyes brownish and bill greyer (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); tail has more and narrower bars.

New Guinea.

Rain forest from sea-level to 3200 m (mainly below 2000 m, but perhaps up to 3700 m (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 3 Freeman, B., and A. M. Class Freeman (2014). The avifauna of Mt. Karimui, Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea, including evidence for long-term population dynamics in undisturbed tropical forest. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 134(1):30–51. Close ) ); 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 Watson, M. and Asoyama, S. (2001). Dispersion, habitat use, hunting behavior, vocalizations, and conservation status of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae). Journal of Raptor Research. 35(3): 235-239. Close ).

Presumably sedentary, aside from dispersal movements by juveniles (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

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 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Also birds and reptiles, including snakes and monitor lizards (Varanus) (5 Beehler, B.M., Crill, W., Jeffries, B. and Jeffries, M. (1992). New Guinea Harpy-Eagle attempts to capture a monitor lizard. Emu. 92(4): 246-247. Close ). 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 Watson, M. and Asoyama, S. (2001). Dispersion, habitat use, hunting behavior, vocalizations, and conservation status of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae). Journal of Raptor Research. 35(3): 235-239. Close ); 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 Legra, L.A.T. (2005). Nest-site Selection and Behavioural Biology of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae. BSc thesis, University of Papua New Guinea, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. Close ). 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 Watson, M. and Asoyama, S. (2001). Dispersion, habitat use, hunting behavior, vocalizations, and conservation status of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae). Journal of Raptor Research. 35(3): 235-239. Close ). 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.

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 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Apparently from late wet season through dry season (austral autumn to spring; Apr–Nov (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ): 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 Legra, L.A.T. (2005). Nest-site Selection and Behavioural Biology of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae. BSc thesis, University of Papua New Guinea, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. Close ). 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 Legra, L.A.T. (2005). Nest-site Selection and Behavioural Biology of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae. BSc thesis, University of Papua New Guinea, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. Close ). Nest may be used for many years. Several  records of single nestlings or fledglings (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 6 Legra, L.A.T. (2005). Nest-site Selection and Behavioural Biology of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae. BSc thesis, University of Papua New Guinea, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea. Close ). Perhaps only breeds every two years (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Longevity more than 30 years in captivity. No further information.

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 Watson, M. and Asoyama, S. (2001). Dispersion, habitat use, hunting behavior, vocalizations, and conservation status of the New Guinea Harpy Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae). Journal of Raptor Research. 35(3): 235-239. Close ). Now rare or absent in areas of heavy (illegal) hunting pressure; also threatened by deforestation in lowlands.