Philippine Honey Buzzard

The Philippine honey buzzard, Pernis steerei, is a captivating bird of prey, with males ranging from 52.5 cm to 55.3 cm and females slightly larger at 52 cm to 59 cm. Their wingspan is notably expansive, at 2.1 times their total length. When observed from above, their tail and broad, rounded wings exhibit an umber hue intermixed with white. From below, these features are pale with dark banding, including a distinctive broad terminal band on the tail. The chest, belly, and head are adorned with white streaks, or in juveniles, a pale to cream coloration. A dark brown crest, starting from the back of the head, sets this species apart from its relatives, along with paler plumage on the head and back. Adults boast a bright golden iris, and a brown line extends from the beak to the back of the head. Their raptorial dark grey beak and yellow legs are complemented by claws averaging 20 to 22 cm.

Identification Tips

The Philippine honey buzzard can be identified by its short tarsus, narrow bill, and square-cut tail, which are indicative of its foraging strategy. The species is often seen perched upright on large branches or soaring with ease. The subspecies P. s. winkleri exhibits more pronounced sexual dimorphism and juvenile-like homogenous brown plumage compared to the nominate P. s. steerei.

Habitat

This species is endemic to the forested lowlands of the Philippines, excluding Palawan. They are typically found in primary or secondary rainforests at elevations ranging from 90 to 1550 meters above sea level, preferring areas with high tree cover for soaring.

Distribution

The Philippine honey buzzard is a sedentary bird, with subspecies P. s. winkleri residing in the northern islands such as Luzon, and P. s. steerei found further south. Their range overlaps with two subspecies of the crested honey-buzzard, distinguishable by their red eyes and smaller crests.

Behaviour

Outside the breeding season, honey buzzards are generally quiet, but they may emit one- or two-toned whistle-like calls. They are known to hunt by soaring or perching, waiting for prey. Couples engage in high-circling and talon-grasping behaviors.

Song & Calls

The Philippine honey buzzard is typically silent outside of breeding times, occasionally producing whistle-like calls.

Breeding

Display flights have been observed, where the bird ascends from a soar, quivers its wings above its back, and then dives sharply, repeating this maneuver several times. Eggs have been documented in February, with breeding timed to coincide with periods of high bee and wasp abundance.

Similar Species

The Philippine honey buzzard can be distinguished from the crested honey-buzzard by its eye color and the presence or absence of a crest.

Diet and Feeding

The diet mainly consists of wasp and bee larvae, with occasional small nestlings, lizards, and possibly frogs. They are equipped with dense, stiff plumage to protect against stings.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Philippine honey buzzard as Least Concern, but the species faces severe habitat loss due to extensive logging of its forested habitats.