Gurney’s Eagles
Eagles ... Birds of Prey ... The Sport of Falconry
Gurney’s Eagle, Aquila gurneyi, is a large eagle in the family Accipitridae.
Identification
This eagle is mainly dark brown to black, with paler undersides to its flight feathers and a rounded tail. Its body length is 74–86 cm; with a wingspan of between 1.7 and 1.9 m. Females are larger than males. Its wings are held level when gliding.
Range and habitat
Gurney’s Eagle is found in New Guinea and adjacent islands westwards to the Moluccas. It has been recorded from Saibai and Boigu islands in north-western Torres Strait, thus putting it on the Australian bird list. it inhabits rainforest, swamp forest, and adjacent cultivated and coastal areas.
Diet / Feeding
It probably feeds mainly on mammals and reptiles.
Conservation
Gurney's Eagle occurs at low population densities and is likely to be declining slowly through habitat loss and degradation. Considered to be Near Threatened. Listed on CITES Appendix II.
References
- BirdLife International (2004). Aquila gurneyi. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 28 Jan 2008. Database entry includes brief justification for why the species is of least concern
- BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: Aquila gurneyi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/12/2006
- Coates, B.J. (1985), The Birds of Papua New Guinea, Vol. 1, Non-Passerines. Dove: Alderley, Queensland. ISBN 0-9590257-0-7
- Morcombe, Michael. (2000). Field Guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing: Queensland. ISBN 1-876282-10-X
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