Pernis celebensis
The Barred Honey Buzzard (Pernis celebensis) is a medium-sized raptor endemic to the Philippines and Sulawesi region, known for its distinctive appearance and specialized diet. Measuring 45-55 cm (18-22 in) in length with a wingspan of 100-115 cm (39-45 in), adults exhibit dark brown upperparts contrasting with heavily barred white to buff underparts, featuring prominent dark rufous or brown barring on the belly and undertail coverts. A key field mark is its short, erectile crest, giving the ...
Found in primary and secondary tropical lowland and montane forests, often near forest edges or clearings, typically from sea level up to 2000 meters elevation.
Feeds primarily on the larvae, pupae, and adults of social Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, hornets), which it excavates from nests; it may also consume small vertebrates and other insects.
The Barred Honey Buzzard is primarily a solitary raptor, though pairs are observed during the breeding season. Its daily activity often involves perching quietly for extended periods, scanning for prey, interspersed with soaring high above the forest canopy. Foraging is highly specialized, involv...
The Barred Honey Buzzard is an endemic species to the southeastern Asian archipelagos, with its distribution centered around the Philippines and the Sulawesi region of Indonesia. Its breeding range encompasses numerous islands, including Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Mindanao, Negros, Panay, and the S...
Least Concern
- The Barred Honey Buzzard possesses unique protective scales on its legs and thick, stiff feathers around its face to shield against stings while raiding bee and wasp nests. - Unlike most raptors that hunt vertebrates, its diet is highly specialized, focusing almost exclusively on the protein-ri...