About Icthyophaga humilis (S.Muller & Schlegel, 1841)
The lesser fish eagle (scientific name Icthyophaga humilis) is a medium-sized bird of prey. Its plumage is primarily gray-brown, and it has broad, blunt wings, coarse featherless legs, a long neck, a small head, and a short, rounded tail. It has a brown breast, with white thighs and belly. This species is smaller than the closely related grey-headed fish eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus), and is often confused with that species. Juvenile lesser fish eagles resemble adults, but can be distinguished by their eye color: juveniles have brown eyes, while adults have yellow eyes. Full-grown adult lesser fish eagles reach up to 64 centimetres (25 inches) in total height, with a wingspan of up to 1.2 metres (3 feet 11 inches).
Lesser fish eagles inhabit different types of rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and are most frequently found along hill streams and fast-moving water. They can be found at elevations as high as 2,400 metres, though they usually live below 1,000 metres (3,280 feet). Individual lesser fish eagles have been recorded at elevations over 4,000 metres (13,120 feet) in Nepal.
The range of the lesser fish eagle extends from India and the Kashmir region eastward through Nepal, China, and other parts of Southeast Asia. In India, the species is restricted to the Himalayan foothills, and spreads toward the northeast. In the Himalayas, adult lesser fish eagles move south of the mountain ranges, but the species maintains partial, altitudinal movement across the region year-round. Confirmed populations of the species span from Bangladesh and Nepal to Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Researchers estimate the total global population is between 1,000 and 10,000 individuals. The species' population is currently declining, due to threats including habitat loss, human disturbance, hunting, and nest robbery. It is currently listed as Near Threatened by BirdLife International.
For lesser fish eagles in Northern India and Nepal, the breeding season runs from March to August; in other parts of the species' range, breeding occurs from November to April. The length of the species' incubation and fledging periods is not currently known. A typical clutch contains 2 to 4 eggs. Nests are built from sticks and green leaves, and may grow to 1 metre across and 1.5 metres deep after repeated use.
