Papuan Eagle

Papuan Eagle
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Harpyopsis Salvadori, 1875
Species:	H. novaeguineae
Binomial name
Harpyopsis novaeguineae Salvadori, 1875

The Papuan Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae, also known as the Papuan Harpy Eagle, New Guinea Eagle, or Kapul Eagle, is a huge (up to 90cm long) greyish brown raptor with a short full crest, broad three-banded wings, powerful beak, large iris, long rounded tail and white underparts. It has long and powerful unfeathered legs with sharp claws. The sexes are similar, and the female is slightly larger than the male. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Harpyopsis.

The Papuan Eagle is endemic to undisturbed tropical rainforests of New Guinea, where it became the top predator of the island. The diet consists mainly of phalangers or Kapul in a local language, hence its alternative name. It also feeds on other mammals, birds and snakes.

One of a group of four large eagles, the others being the Crested and Harpy Eagle of South America and the Philippine Eagle of the Philippines, the New Guinea Harpy Eagle is essentially a mountain bird that nests in high forest trees.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, and hunting for its feathers which are used on ceremonial occasions, the Papuan Eagle is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Harpyopsis novaeguineae. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 1 November 2006.

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List