Changeable Hawk-eagle: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Eagles · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. It is called changeable for good reason: its feathers can be anything from pale to dark, shifting with age and moult.
2. A long tail, short broad wings and strong legs let this forest hunter twist between trees and strike fast, a bit like a goshawk.
3. It likes to lie in wait hidden among leaves, then pounce. Some have even watched for prey from their own nest and dropped onto it.
4. To defend its patch, it shoots straight up and nose-dives. If a rival stays, the two fly at each other and loop the loop.
5. To coax their eaglet out, parents start leaving food on nearby branches. It finally leaves the nest at about 60 to 68 days old.

The quiz

1. Why is it called the changeable hawk-eagle?

• It changes its home every year
• Its feathers vary from pale to dark (correct)
• It changes its call each season
• It switches between day and night hunting

Its plumage varies widely, changing with moult and age.

2. What do its short broad wings and long tail help it do?

• Swim underwater
• Glide over oceans for days
• Turn quickly and strike fast in forests (correct)
• Run fast on open plains

This body shape gives agility and quick strikes in dense woods.

3. How does the changeable hawk-eagle mostly hunt?

• By ambush from hidden branches (correct)
• By chasing prey across the sky for hours
• By wading in rivers
• By digging in the ground

It hides among leaves and pounces fast.

4. What do two rival hawk-eagles do if neither backs down?

• Sit side by side
• Fly at each other and loop the loop (correct)
• Sing a duet
• Build a nest together

They fly at each other at great speed and do a full loop in the air.

5. How do parents encourage their chick to leave the nest?

• They stop feeding it
• They pull out the nest lining
• They leave food on nearby branches (correct)
• They carry it out on their backs

Food is delivered to nearby branches to tempt the eaglet out.

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