Malaysian Birds - Bird of Prey

Malaysian Birds

38 ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

Accipiters

The family *Accipitridae* is one of the most diverse and widespread groups of birds of prey, encompassing a wide variety of species, including hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. Accipiters as they are called are known for their powerful builds, keen eyesight, and formidable hunting skills, making them apex predators in many ecosystems.
The birds vary greatly in size, from the small *Sparrowhawk* to the massive *Harpy eagle* in the Phillipines
- They typically have strong, hooked beaks for tearing flesh and powerful talons for capturing and killing prey.
- Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism, with females often being larger than males.
- Plumage varies widely, from the striking patterns of hawks and eagles to the more subdued tones of vultures.
These birds are ctive during the day and are highly skilled hunters.
- They are solitary or territorial, though some species, like vultures, are more social and gather in groups.
In Malaysia we get to see a good number of species migrating from East Asia to Indonesia, traveling long distances over 12,000 km

Worldwide - Hawks and Eagles comes under the broad family of Accipitrinae. In this family, there are 239 species, of which 51 species can be seen in South east Asia. These birds are known by a varieties of common names beside Eagles and Hawks, such as Sparrowhawks, Buzzards, Baza and Harriers. For the purpose of this page, I narrowed down and focus on birds which have selected name of "Eagle" attached to them. Here in Malaysia, we should be able to see 16 species each year. Why each year? Quite a few of them are migratory.

Eagles
Eagles are generally larger than most birds of prey. They too, varies in size with the smallest being only 45 cm large. They possess exceptionally good eye sight, seeing prey up to 2 kilometres away. They are also known as Accipiters or Raptors with over 60 different species. Among the 4 main groups of Raptors, Eagles are rather big black birds and have their feet covered with feathers. Also on this page, there are 3 other groups of birds sharing the name Eagle

ACCIPITRIFORMES

38 Accipitridae

Eagles

1 Booted Eagle

2 Booted Eagle

3 Booted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle

Hawk-Eagles

The main difference between Hawk and Eagle is that Hawk are smaller and more agile birds. So Hawk-Eagle is actually a group of Eagle smaller than the regular Eagle, moving faster.

Hawk-Eagles prey on live mammals, birds and even small reptiles. Their strategy is to maintain a lookout perched bolt upright on a unobstructed bough at some high points. Various Hawk Eagles have their preferences, there are those seeking covers among the canopy foliage of high trees standing near a forest clearing. There they wait for small birds convenient to their reach and small animals coming out into the open. The bird then swoops down, makes the strikes, and carries the prey away in its talons.

But unfortunately their hunt were hardly witnessed, I suppose less dramatic when compared to the actions of others Raptors.

Blyth's Hawk- Eagle

Changeable Hawk- Eagle

Mountain Hawk- Eagle

Fish-Eagles

Fish-Eagle are larger Eagle and their main diet is Fish. They hand around tall trees near ponds or lake. Normally not nearby the ponds eedge but rather the highest point in the area. Capitalizing on their eye sight and better coverage. Here in Malaysia, the Fish-Eagles have field days without competition

Grey-headed Fish- Eagle

Lesser Fish-Eagle

White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1

White-bellied Sea-Eagle 2

Serpent- Eagles

The name given to the following groups of "Eagle" denotes their habits, special skills and diet. Speaks for itself, the type of Eagles.
Serpent-Eagle are midsize Eagle preferring forest edge environment. Their preference for food? Crawlies on the forest food. Snake is preferred otherwise most time lizards.

Crested Serpent- Eagle

Eagles are not easy to find, but in the right places and season, their presence in the area is obvious. So far, all those birds seen were perched in very open areas, very few birds and odd occasions. The low number of sightings gives the impression that they are scare and if available would show up open vantage points. In reality, perhaps more Hawk Eagles preferred concealed perches and were not detected. Just like the way they hunt was hardly witnessed, there must be much more birds in the area and never accounted for.

Quite often in our birding trips, there were encounters with Eagles making a fly past and then landed among the canopy. Sadly, the spots where they perched were never located.

Buzzards

Common Buzzard 1

Common Buzzard 2

Common Buzzard 3

Grey faced Buzzard 1

Grey faced Buzzard 2

Harriers

Eastern Marsh-Harrier

Sparrowhawk

Chinese Sparrowhawk 1

Chinese Sparrowhawk 2

Chinese Sparrowhawk 3

Chinese Sparrowhawk 4

Chinese Sparrowhawk 5

Japanese Sparrowhawk 1

Japanese Sparrowhawk 2

Japanese Sparrowhawk 3

Japanese Sparrowhawk 4

Hawk

Bat Hawk 1

Bat Hawk 2

Baza

Jerdon's Baza 1

Jerdon's Baza 2

Jerdon's Baza 3

Black Baza 1

Black Baza 2

Black Baza 3

Besra

Besra 1

Besra 2

Besra 3

Honey Buzzard

Oriental Honey-Buzzard 1

Oriental Honey-Buzzard 2

Oriental Honey-Buzzard 3

Goshawk

Crested Goshawk 1

Crested Goshawk 2

Crested Goshawk 3

Shikra

Shikra 1

Shikra 2

Shikra 3

Kite

Some clarification on the use of certain terms.

Raptors or raptorial birds, quote - "warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings."

In another way of addressing the same subject, Accipiter are hawks that visit deeply wooded areas. The birds generally has short rounded wings and long rudder like tails, to assist them in maneuver between foliages.

For the Malaysian Bird list, I have grouped all these Accipiters as one under this family heading. The birds included are:-

Black Kite 1

Black Kite 2

Black Kite 3

Black Kite 4

Black-winged Kite 1

Brahminy Kite 1

Brahminy Kite 2

Brahminy Kite 3

Noting the members of this large group of Accipiters, for the 3 Kites that we get to see in Malaysia, I have put up a dedicated page to focus on this special birds

The Kite has the looks of a small hawks. It is lightly built with a small head, long narrow wings, and a forked tail. The bird has a reputation for hovering in the sky, yes the one you saw before.

So for coining of the word "Kite". Like all hawks, the kite too has a reputation as a predator. Rumored that in the 16th century, a person who preys on others in any way has been called a kite.

The same name then applied in the 17th century to a toy whose use seemed to imitate or suggest that behavior. The toy too has a light frame covered usually with paper or cloth, provided with a balancing tail, and designed to be flown in the air at the end of a long string. The toy was called "kite", just like the hovering bird of prey. Now you know that the "play thing" is named after the bird.

In flight, the bird is known for its hypnotic hovering. It slowly flaps its long wings and then glides on and on with its wings angled back. This page is about Kites. IN Malaysia we could easily see these 3 species.

The Black Kite is the only bird within this group that is hardly seen, whereas the other two Kites are fairly common. Most locals with little interest in birds would not know of the classifications and background. They won't find them interesting as they are always so high up in the sky or Casuarinas when perched. I find that the Kites are good subjects to photograph as each of them has that distinctive looks particularly in flight.

With Will would Wander