Philippine Crested Serpent Eagle

Description:

This eagle is endemic to the Philippines and now listed as endangered. This specimen is a male and stands 21 inches. It is distinguished from other serpent eagle species through the prominent spots on the wings and the underpants. It feeds on reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and even birds. One time I saw it caught a toxic cane toad, squeezed it with its talons and splits open the abdomen with its beak and eats only the internal organs. Well he knows that the other parts are toxic - beauty of instinct. It is a solitary and very territorial bird, often seen with company only during the mating season.

Habitat:

It inhabits primary and secondary forests. Often seen soaring above forests clearings, cultivated and populated land making them vulnerable to hunters.

Notes:

This one is actually rescued by my uncle ( a volunteer wildlife rescue ranger ) in exchange of 1000 pieces milkfish fingerlings that cost about 20US$. He has a gunshot wound at the right shoulder and could not fly.We took care of him for more than a year and then released him after he was rehabilitated. At first he kept coming back back to our house after a while, during the mating season he wasn't able to come back. I just hope his fine now. I must admit, in our place, it is far more safer to keep wild animals in captivity than setting them free in the wild where they are often hunted for food or sadly without any reason but by mere pleasure of killing.