Ornate hawk eagle
Uh-oh, this guy looks like a warrior in full armor!
The ornate hawk-eagle is a strikingly colored bird, with a black crown and crest, set off by chestnut on the sides of the head and hindneck, extending to sides of the breast. Bold black bars occur below the breast; the tarsi are feathered, the cere is yellow and the eyes are orange. The female, as in most raptors, is larger than the male.
A powerful raptor, the ornate hawk-eagle hunts from a perch in the middle tree story, usually along the forest edge, moving about inconspicuously from perch to perch. Prey is caught on the ground, or in trees. Following a one-to-two month courtship, a stick nest is built in a tall tree, isolated from other tall trees, with easy access for the parents, but reduced access for potential nest predators. The female lays one egg, which is incubated mostly by her for 48 days. The youngster fledges two-to-three months after hatching and remains near the nest, being fed mostly by the male for up to one year after fledging. The female ignores the young after fledging and expands her home range. Adults probably breed only every third year.
The ornate hawk-eagle belongs to a group called booted eagles, which are distinguished from other eagles by having feathers on their legs, which extend down to the feet like boots. The birds flashy crest on top of its head gives it its name, ornate. Not globally threatened, the ornate hawk-eagle is seldom displayed in zoos.
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by eagle » Sat Jul 26, 2014 8:50 am 
