Photo: A.Savin / FAL (Wikimedia Commons)
Changeable Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus cirrhatus
Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Nisaetus
- Species cirrhatus
Where it lives
Himalayas, central, southern India and Sri Lanka to Greater Sundas and Philippines
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas, c, s India and Sri Lanka to Greater Sundas and Philippines.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 41.5 cm and a tail of around 29 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Changeable Hawk-Eagle?
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Changeable Hawk-Eagle live?
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas, c, s India and Sri Lanka to Greater Sundas and Philippines, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Changeable Hawk-Eagle belong to?
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Changeable Hawk-Eagle eat?
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Changeable Hawk-Eagle migrate?
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Changeable Hawk-Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Changeable Hawk-Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Changeable Hawk-Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Changeable Hawk-Eagle's range?
The Changeable Hawk-Eagle has a mapped global range of about 4.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.