Nisaetus kelaarti
The Legge's Hawk-Eagle, *Nisaetus kelaarti*, is a magnificent medium-sized raptor endemic to the forested hills of southern India and Sri Lanka. Measuring approximately 55-70 cm in length with a wingspan of 110-135 cm, and weighing between 1.2-1.8 kg, this powerful eagle is characterized by its prominent crest, dark brown upperparts, and streaked underparts. Adults display a rufous head and neck, bright yellow eyes, and a robust, dark bill, while juveniles are paler overall with an unstreaked...
This hawk-eagle primarily inhabits dense, evergreen, and moist deciduous montane forests, favoring areas with tall trees for nesting and perching. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 600 to 2200 meters above sea level.
Their diet primarily consists of small to medium-sized birds (such as junglefowl and pigeons), mammals (squirrels, rodents, bats), and reptiles (lizards, snakes), captured through sudden stoops from a high perch or aerial chases.
Legge's Hawk-Eagles are diurnal predators, often observed soaring high on thermals or perched inconspicuously on a tall tree, patiently scanning for prey. Their primary foraging strategy is a 'sit-and-wait' ambush, launching a rapid, powerful strike from a hidden perch, though they also engage in...
The Legge's Hawk-Eagle is an endemic resident of the Western Ghats mountain range in peninsular India and the island nation of Sri Lanka. In India, its distribution spans across the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Goa, primarily within the evergreen and moist deciduous forest tracts ...
Least Concern
- Legge's Hawk-Eagle was formerly considered a subspecies of the Changeable Hawk-Eagle (*Nisaetus cirrhatus*), but genetic and morphological differences led to its recognition as a distinct species. - Its scientific name, *kelaarti*, honors Edward Frederick Kelaart, a Sri Lankan physician and nat...