🐦 FlyingCare difficulty: AdvancedLegal complexity: High — restricted in many states
Philippine eagle
Pithecophaga jefferyi
The Philippine eagle is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world and the national bird of the Philippines. Critically endangered from deforestation and hunting, it is the focus of intensive captive-breeding and forest-protection programs.
Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
🩺 Need expert help with your philippine eagle?
Connect with a specialist near you or ask a licensed vet — never substitute online guidance for hands-on care in an emergency.
Quick facts
| Size | One of the largest eagles; ~90-100 cm long, wingspan ~2 m, 4.5-8 kg. |
| Lifespan | 30–60 years |
| Native region | Forests of the Philippines (Luzon, Samar, Leyte, Mindanao) |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Genus | Pithecophaga |
Habitat & enclosure
A canopy raptor of mature tropical rainforest, requiring vast undisturbed territories — a single breeding pair may need tens of square kilometers of forest. Rampant logging has fragmented its habitat. It is a strictly protected wild apex predator, not an animal that can be privately kept; killing one carries severe legal penalties in the Philippines.
Diet
An apex forest predator that hunts flying lemurs, monkeys, large birds, snakes, and other vertebrates from the canopy. Its dependence on healthy prey populations makes it a flagship indicator of rainforest health. This is an educational/conservation profile.
Behavior & temperament
Pairs are monogamous and territorial, raising a single chick over a long breeding cycle that can span two years, which makes population recovery very slow. The species is the subject of a long-running captive-breeding program at the Philippine Eagle Center aimed at eventual release.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — conservation profile (pending DVM/biologist review)