Javan Hawk-eagle: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Eagles · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Its striking crest links it to Garuda, the mythical bird on Indonesia's national emblem. In 1993 it was named the country's National Rare Animal.
2. You can tell its age by its eyes. They go from dark brown in chicks to bluish-grey, then lemon yellow, and finally bright gold in adults.
3. A patient watcher, it spends about 95% of daylight perched on bare trees on ridges. On foggy or rainy days it stays tucked in the canopy.
4. Its stick nest sits high in a big tree, often built on top of ferns growing on the branch. The male brings sticks and the female arranges them.
5. Big brothers and sisters help out. Older young birds sometimes repair the nest or guard the chicks of later years.

The quiz

1. Which mythological bird is the Javan hawk-eagle linked to?

• The phoenix
• Garuda (correct)
• The thunderbird
• The roc

Its crest and looks tie it to Garuda, Indonesia's national emblem.

2. What colour are a full-grown Javan hawk-eagle's eyes?

• Dark brown
• Bluish-grey
• Red
• Bright golden yellow (correct)

Eye colour changes with age and ends up bright golden yellow.

3. What does it do on foggy or rainy days?

• Stays inactive in the forest canopy (correct)
• Soars high above the clouds
• Flies to the coast
• Hunts on the ground

In bad weather it stays put inside the canopy.

4. Who arranges the sticks when a pair builds its nest?

• The male
• The older chicks
• The female (correct)
• Neither, the wind does it

The male carries the sticks and the female arranges them.

5. How do older young birds sometimes help their parents?

• By hunting all the food
• By singing to the chicks
• By repairing nests or guarding chicks (correct)
• By chasing away the parents

Older immatures may repair nests or guard later chicks.

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