About Ictinaetus malayensis (Temminck, 1822)
Ictinaetus malayensis, the black eagle, is a large but slender eagle, measuring about 75 cm (30 in) in length with a wingspan of 148 to 182 cm (4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 0 in). Despite being one of the largest eagles within its range, recorded body weights are relatively low, ranging between 1,000 and 1,600 g (2.2 and 3.5 lb). This is roughly half the weight of the partially sympatric mountain hawk-eagle, which has a similar total body length. Adult black eagles have all-black plumage, with a yellow cere at the base of the bill and yellow feet. Their wings are long, with a pinched narrowing at the innermost primary feathers that creates a distinctive shape. The tail has faint barring, and the upper tail coverts are paler. When perched, the wing tips reach or extend past the tip of the tail. In flight, black eagles hold their wings in a shallow V shape, with the wings just above the horizontal plane. On hot afternoons, they can be seen searching over treetops to raid nests, and are easily recognized by their jet black color, large size, and characteristic slow flight, which often takes place just above the forest canopy. Males and females look similar, but juvenile birds have buff coloration on the head, underparts, and underwing coverts. The distinct wing shape helps separate this species from the dark morph of the changeable hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus). The tarsi are fully feathered, and the toes are relatively stout and short, with long claws (especially on the inner toe) that are less strongly curved than the claws of other birds of prey. The black eagle breeds in tropical and subtropical Asia. The subspecies Ictinaetus malayensis perniger (Hodgson, 1836) occurs in the Himalayan foothills west through Nepal into the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, and in forests of the Eastern and Western Ghats in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The species' westernmost range extends to Gujarat, particularly in forested areas of southern and eastern Gujarat, and it also reaches the Aravalli range of northwestern India. The nominate subspecies Ictinaetus malayensis malayensis (Temminck, 1822) is found in Myanmar, Bangladesh, southern China (Yunnan, Fujian) and Taiwan, and across Southeast Asia. Black eagles are generally resident, and no migrations have been observed. A study in southern India found that the species favors forests with thick canopy cover, and is absent from areas with less than 50% canopy cover. Black eagles are regularly observed in Bangladesh, where they breed and thrive, particularly in the country's hilly, forested regions. They are most common in southeastern and northeastern Bangladesh, where the landscape has dense forests and rolling hills. Chittagong and Sylhet are notable key habitats for black eagles in Bangladesh. The black eagle feeds on mammals (including bats, squirrels, and other small mammals), birds, and eggs. It is an effective nest predator well known for its slow flight just above the forest canopy. Its curved claws and wide gape allow it to pick up bird eggs from nests, as well as swiftlets from caves. Along with swallow-tailed kites, black eagles have the unique habit of carrying away an entire intact nest with nestlings to a feeding perch. Squirrels, macaques, and many bird species give alarm calls when black eagles are spotted soaring over the forest. The Indian giant squirrel is a recorded prey item for this species, and young bonnet macaques may also be hunted by black eagles.
