Flores hawk-eagle

What is the Flores hawk-eagle?

The Flores hawk-eagle (Nisaetus floris) is a large, white-headed forest eagle found only in Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. It was once treated as a subspecies of the changeable hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus). In 2004 Gjershaug and colleagues proposed recognising it as a separate species, and BirdLife and Indonesia’s protected-species regulation now treat it as a full species.

According to that study, adults and juveniles alike have white heads and a diagnostic white patch on the upper primaries, and are much larger than changeable hawk-eagles. In the field it can be confused with juvenile short-toed snake eagles, Bonelli’s eagles, rufous-bellied eagles and white-bellied sea eagles, which also have white underparts.

Evidence: Forktail 20 (Oriental Bird Club) — Gjershaug et al. 2004, The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris (PDF) ↗ · BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet ↗ · JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF) ↗

Where does the Flores hawk-eagle live?

The Flores hawk-eagle is endemic to Nusa Tenggara and has been recorded on Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores and Alor, as well as several nearby small islands. Gjershaug and colleagues (2004) also recorded it on Rinca and Satonda, and its first Lombok record came from the edge of Gunung Rinjani National Park in 2002. It lives in lowland and submontane forest up to about 1,600 m, with most sightings in lowland rainforest. BirdLife treats all the island birds as one subpopulation, because individuals are thought to cross between islands occasionally.

Evidence: BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet ↗ · Forktail 20 (Oriental Bird Club) — Gjershaug et al. 2004, The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris (PDF) ↗

What does the Flores hawk-eagle eat?

The Flores hawk-eagle’s diet is poorly studied, but it is known to hunt in forest and over farmland near forest. Gjershaug and colleagues (2004) reported that people in every village they visited knew a white-headed eagle said to take chickens and piglets around villages, although confusion with other raptors could not be ruled out. The team also saw a Flores hawk-eagle hunting in the middle of a village early one morning. BirdLife notes that it regularly hunts over degraded habitat, and that its taste for poultry leads some local people to see it as a pest.

Evidence: Forktail 20 (Oriental Bird Club) — Gjershaug et al. 2004, The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris (PDF) ↗ · BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet ↗

How does the Flores hawk-eagle breed?

The Flores hawk-eagle is thought to breed in the dry season. According to BirdLife, display flights and mating have been seen on Flores in June–July, and the breeding season on Lombok is thought to be similar. It needs stands of tall trees for nesting, even though it can hunt over more open land. Gjershaug and colleagues (2004) estimated a territory of about 40 km² per pair, while a more recent movement study suggests a home range of 8.4–23.1 km². At Mbeliling, Flores, the team heard of a large nest tree being felled and the chick sold at a bird market.

Evidence: BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet ↗ · Forktail 20 (Oriental Bird Club) — Gjershaug et al. 2004, The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris (PDF) ↗

Why is the Flores hawk-eagle endangered?

The Flores hawk-eagle is endangered because its population is small, its forest is shrinking and it is killed for taking chickens. BirdLife estimates 320–1,500 mature individuals (2023 estimate) and assessed it as Endangered in 2024; from 2009 to 2016 it was listed as Critically Endangered. BirdLife notes that a change of category does not necessarily mean the species is doing better, as it may reflect better data. Chicks are also sometimes taken to be kept as pets. The Manggarai people of western Flores once regarded the eagle as a totem (‘empo’) and an ancestor and did not hunt it, but this tradition has since broken down.

Evidence: BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet ↗ · Forktail 20 (Oriental Bird Club) — Gjershaug et al. 2004, The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris (PDF) ↗

How can the Flores hawk-eagle be protected?

The Flores hawk-eagle is listed as a protected species in the annex to Indonesian Ministerial Regulation P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 and is on CITES Appendix II. The most important steps are protecting forest and the tall trees it nests in, and stopping the killing of eagles over conflicts with poultry. Do not take chicks from nests or buy eagles as pets. BirdLife reports that community-based education schemes are under way to reduce offtake, but more protected areas are still needed. If you find an injured eagle or one being sold, do not handle it yourself; contact local conservation officers.

Evidence: JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF) ↗ · BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet ↗

Explore related habitats

These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.

Sources & references

1. BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet ↗
2. Forktail 20 (Oriental Bird Club) — Gjershaug et al. 2004, The taxonomic status of Flores Hawk Eagle Spizaetus floris (PDF) ↗
3. JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur — Permen LHK No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF) ↗
4. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2026-1, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0) ↗

References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.

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