Pygmy Eagle Hieraaetus weiskei Scientific name definitions

38–48 cm; male 483 g (one); wingspan 112–126 cm. Like closely related Little Eagle (H. morphnoides), a small, polymorphic Hieraaetus. In addition to plumage features noted above, adult differs from adult morphnoides in having smaller bill, shorter tail and shorter toes (although small sample sizes for each taxon (1 Gjershaug, J. O., H. R. L. Lerner, and O. H. Diserud (2009). Taxonomy and distribution of the Pygmy Eagle Aquila (Hieraaetus) weiskei (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae). Zootaxa 2326:24–38. Close ) ). Pale morph has white underwing coverts and white undersides with broad dark streaks on breast, and dark morph has brown underwing coverts and rufous undersides; in both morphs the cheeks, crown and nape are streaked brown, and the tail has 7–8 blackish bars. Juvenile similar to adult but has narrower pale outermost tail bands and more-pointed remiges (1 Gjershaug, J. O., H. R. L. Lerner, and O. H. Diserud (2009). Taxonomy and distribution of the Pygmy Eagle Aquila (Hieraaetus) weiskei (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae). Zootaxa 2326:24–38. Close ).

Until recently considered conspecific with H. morphnoides, but differs in its smaller size, (wing length 308–317 mm vs 332–396 mm in males, 327–342 mm vs 367–413 mm in females) (score at least 2); less-pronounced or non-existent malar stripe (ns[1]); more evenly distributed dark crown streaks on white base (vs more densely packed broader dark central crown streaks on biscuit-coloured base, creating capped effect with more prominent pale postocular supercilium) (2); breast streaking more prominent and extensive (2); absence of broad pale brown (biscuit-coloured) collar (from neck sides around nape) (3); less-crested crown (ns[1]); seven (not six) tail bars, darker and broader in pattern and reaching edges of feathers (ns[2]); darker upperparts including flight feathers (ns[1]). Full details published elsewhere (2 Bunce, M., Szulkin, M., Lerner, H.R.L., Barnes, O., Shapiro, B., Cooper, A. and Holdaway, R.N. (2005). Ancient DNA provides new insights into the evolutionary history of New Zealand’s extinct giant eagle. PLoS Biol.. 3(1): 44–46. Close , 1 Gjershaug, J. O., H. R. L. Lerner, and O. H. Diserud (2009). Taxonomy and distribution of the Pygmy Eagle Aquila (Hieraaetus) weiskei (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae). Zootaxa 2326:24–38. Close ). Monotypic.

New Guinea and Moluccas (Halmahera, Ternate, Buru, Seram) (1 Gjershaug, J. O., H. R. L. Lerner, and O. H. Diserud (2009). Taxonomy and distribution of the Pygmy Eagle Aquila (Hieraaetus) weiskei (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae). Zootaxa 2326:24–38. Close ), (3 Robson, C. (2014). From the field. BirdingASIA. 22: 121–128. Close ).

Uses primary rainforest, riparian forest, monsoon forest, and forest edges; soars low above forest canopy, and perches high up with clear views of surroundings (4 Coates, B. J. (1985). The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Volume 1. Non Passerines. Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, Australia. Close ). Typically occurs from sea-level to 1950 m (5 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but one seen soaring in mountains of Huon Peninsula at 2420 m (6 Freeman, B. G., A. Class, J. Mandeville, S. Tomassi, and B. M. Beehler (2013). Ornithological survey of the mountains of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 133(1):4–18. Close ).

Presumably sedentary.

No information aside from report of attacks on groups of Corvus tristis (4 Coates, B. J. (1985). The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Volume 1. Non Passerines. Dove Publications, Alderley, Queensland, Australia. Close ).

Mostly silent, but gives a whistling “sip sip see” during courtship flights (7 Beehler, B. M., T. K. Pratt, and D. A. Zimmerman (1986). Birds of New Guinea. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Widespread in New Guinea but generally considered uncommon. No data on population trends or numbers, but probably declining wherever deforestation has occurred within its range. Several birds seen on Buru I, Moluccas, in 1995 (8 Reeve, A. H., T. Haryoko, M. K. Poulsen, P.-H. Fabre, and K. A. Jønsson (2014). New ornithological records from Buru and Seram, south Maluku, Indonesia, 1995–2012. Forktail 30:10–22. Close ) and 2014Ornithological Note  appear to be of this species.