Pernis steerei
The Philippine Honey Buzzard (Pernis steerei) is a captivating medium-sized raptor endemic to the Philippines, often considered a distinct species from the Oriental Honey Buzzard. Adult birds typically measure 50-58 cm in length with a wingspan of 110-120 cm, featuring an overall brownish plumage with a noticeably small, pigeon-like head. Distinctive field marks include dark eye patches, a dark malar stripe, and a relatively long tail with broad dark bands, while the underparts are generally ...
This raptor primarily inhabits tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, extending into montane forests up to at least 1,500 meters above sea level across its Philippine range.
The primary diet consists of larvae, pupae, and honey from wasp and bee nests, supplemented with adult insects, small reptiles, and amphibians.
Philippine Honey Buzzards exhibit a diurnal activity pattern, often seen soaring high above the forest canopy during the warmer parts of the day, scanning for prey. Their foraging strategy is highly specialized: they actively seek out and excavate wasp and bee nests, using their sturdy feet and b...
The Philippine Honey Buzzard is endemic to the Philippine archipelago, with a widespread but fragmented distribution across many of the major islands. Its breeding range includes Luzon, Mindoro, Palawan, Negros, Panay, Cebu, Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, and Basilan, among others, indicating a preferen...
Least Concern
- The Philippine Honey Buzzard possesses special adaptations, including stiff, scale-like feathers around its eyes and nostrils, believed to protect it from stings while raiding wasp and bee nests. - Its scientific name, Pernis steerei, honors Joseph Beal Steere, an American ornithologist and exp...