Henicopernis longicauda
The Long-tailed Honey Buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda) is a striking and specialized raptor belonging to the Accipitridae family, endemic to the rainforests of New Guinea and its satellite islands. This medium-sized bird of prey measures 50-60 cm in length, boasting an impressive wingspan of 105-140 cm, with females often slightly larger than males, though plumage differences are negligible. Its dorsal plumage is predominantly dark brown to blackish, contrasting with a paler, heavily streake...
Primarily inhabits dense tropical rainforests, montane forests, and forest edges, from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters in elevation.
Feeds almost exclusively on larvae, pupae, and adult insects from wasp and bee nests, supplemented by stick insects, caterpillars, small reptiles, and frogs.
The Long-tailed Honey Buzzard is generally a solitary raptor, though pairs can be observed during the breeding season. It often soars gracefully above the forest canopy or perches inconspicuously within the dense foliage. Its most distinctive behavior revolves around its foraging strategy: it act...
The Long-tailed Honey Buzzard is strictly endemic to the island of New Guinea and its numerous associated satellite islands within the Australasian realm. Its distribution spans both the Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua, and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. Specific island ...
Least Concern
- The Long-tailed Honey Buzzard's tail can be nearly half its entire body length, functioning like a rudder for exceptional maneuverability in dense forest. - Unlike most raptors, its diet is highly specialized, focusing almost entirely on the protein-rich larvae and pupae of social wasps and bee...