Crested Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus cirrhatus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusNisaetus (Asian Hawk-Eagles)
- SpeciesNisaetus cirrhatus (Crested Hawk-Eagle)
About the Crested Hawk-Eagle
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 changeable hawk-eagle was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Crested Hawk-Eagle in Periyar National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Periyar National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Crested Hawk-Eagle in Periyar National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Hawk-Eagle sighting in Periyar National Park, based on 102 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Crested Hawk-Eagle in Periyar National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Crested Hawk-Eagle in Periyar National Park in our monthly data.