Flores crested eagle

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Flores crested eagle
Nisaetus floris 2012 Indonesia stamp.jpg

Flores crested eagle ( Nisaetus floris )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Birds of prey (Accipitriformes)
Family : Hawk species (Accipitridae)
Subfamily : Aquilinae
Genre : Nisaetus
Type : Flores crested eagle
Scientific name
Nisaetus floris
( Hartert , 1898)

The Flores crested eagle ( Nisaetus floris , Syn . : Spizaetus floris ) is a rare bird of prey from the genus Nisaetus . It was previously considered a subspecies of the crested eagle ( Nisaetus cirrhatus ), but has been considered a separate species since 2004.

features

With a length of 71 to 82 centimeters, the Flores crested eagle is the largest species within the crested eagle genus. The wingspan is 140 to 160 centimeters and the tail length is 26 to 30 centimeters. The females are 10 percent larger than the males. In the adult bird, the head, underside, rump and the base of the hand-wing are white. The coat and the back are black-brown. The wings are long. There is no hood. In flight, the female sometimes shows fine banding on trousers and under wing covers. The tail shows five to six bands and a sharply demarcated subterminal band. The young birds look similar to the adults, but have a more diffuse tail band.

Occurrence and habitat

The Flores crested eagle is found on the Lesser Sunda Islands Lombok (especially in Rinjani National Park), Sumbawa , Flores , Satonda and Rinca . Reports from the islands of Palu'e and Komodo are not confirmed. Its habitat is lowland rainforests, adjacent plantations and submontane woodland at altitudes up to 1600 m.

Systematics

Until a few years ago, the Flores crested eagle was united with the other Asian crested eagles, one African and two South American species in the genus Spizaetus (see article Aquilinae ). However, according to recent molecular genetic studies, this genus cannot be preserved in this composition. The Asian species of the genus, on the other hand, form a well-founded monophyletic group and were therefore placed in their own genus Nisaetus .

Reproduction

Little is known about the breeding behavior of the Flores crested eagle. The breeding season takes place during the dry season. Courtship flights and mating behavior were observed on Flores in June and July 2003.

food

The diet consists of small and medium-sized mammals (rats, squirrels and hares), birds, reptiles (snakes and lizards) and frogs. Occasionally they also beat domestic chickens in villages.

Existence and endangerment

BirdLife International estimates the population to be less than 100 couples. In 2005 the species was classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Due to the poor stock situation, it was upgraded to the “critically endangered” category in 2009. Loss of habitat is considered the main threat. Usable living space is only available on an area of ​​40 km². Other reasons for the rarity of these eagles are hunting as alleged pests and the illegal cage bird trade in Indonesia.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gjershaug, JO, Kvaløy, K., Røv, N., Prawiradilaga, DM, Suparman, U. & Rahman, Z. (2004): The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris . In: Forktail Edition 20: pp. 55–62.
  2. ↑ HRL Lerner, DP Mindell: Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37; 2005: pp. 327-346
  3. ↑ a b Helbig, AJ, Kocum, A., Seibold, I. & Braun, MJ: A multi-gene phylogeny of aquiline eagles (Aves: Accipitriformes) reveals extensive paraphyly at the genus level. Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution, Volume 35, 2005: pp. 147-164.
  4. ↑ a b E. Haring, K. Kvaløy, J.-O. Gjershaug, N. Røv and A. Gamauf: Convergent evolution and paraphyly of the hawk-eagles of the genus Spizaetus (Aves, Accipitridae) - phylogenetic analyzes based on mitochondrial markers. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, Volume 45, 2007: pp. 353-365.
  5. ↑ 2009 preliminary Red List decisions Asia

literature

  • Gjershaug, JO, Kvaløy, K., Røv, N., Prawiradilaga, DM, Suparman, U. & Rahman, Z. (2004): The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris . In: Forktail, Edition 20: pp. 55–62.
  • J. Ferguson-Lees, DA Christie: The birds of prey of the world (German by Dr. Volker Dierschke and Dr. Jochen Dierschke). Franckh-Kosmos-Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG. Stuttgart, 2009. ISBN 978-3-440-11509-1

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