Quick answer
IUCN status: EndangeredFlores hawk-eagle at a glance
The Flores hawk-eagle (Nisaetus floris) is a bird in the family Accipitridae. Range in Indonesia: Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Alor (Nusa Tenggara). It is endemic to Indonesia, living naturally only in Lesser Sundas (Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Alor and several nearby islets). Diet: poorly studied; reported to take village chickens; a carnivore. IUCN Red List status: Endangered. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).
| Scientific name | Nisaetus floris |
|---|---|
| Indonesian name | Elang Flores |
| Group | Birds |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Range in Indonesia | Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Alor (Nusa Tenggara) |
| Linked habitats | Tropical Rainforests |
| Diet | Poorly studied; reported to take village chickens |
| Range in Indonesia | Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Alor |
| Key feature | White head and white patch on upper wing |
| Other names | Formerly Spizaetus cirrhatus floris or Spizaetus floris |
| IUCN status | Endangered (BirdLife assessment, 2024) |
| IUCN status | Endangered · IUCN Red List (via GBIF) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · Regulation P.106/2018 · annex no. 195 |
| Pairs per island | Flores over 40 pairs (habitat for up to 150–250); Sumbawa about 50–100; Alor 20–50; Lombok no more than about 40 · BirdLife International DataZone — Flores Hawk-eagle Nisaetus floris species factsheet |
| Diet type | Carnivore (meat-eater) — predator of vertebrates · AVONET bird trait database (Tobias et al. 2022) |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) |
| Active | Diurnal (active by day) · EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014, Ecology 95:2027), BirdFuncDat.txt |
| Endemic to Indonesia | Yes — Lesser Sundas (Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Alor and several nearby islets) · BirdLife DataZone |
In this guide (12)
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 Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
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 Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗ · 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.
Scientific classification of the Flores hawk-eagle
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Genus | Nisaetus |
| Species | Nisaetus floris |
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology (for example class Reptilia).
Common questions about the Flores hawk-eagle
What is the scientific name of the Flores hawk-eagle?
The scientific name of the Flores hawk-eagle is Nisaetus floris, in the family Accipitridae. In Indonesian it is called Elang Flores.
What kind of animal is the Flores hawk-eagle?
The Flores hawk-eagle is a bird in the family Accipitridae. By diet it is a carnivore (meat-eater): a predator of vertebrates. It is also endemic to Indonesia.
Where does the Flores hawk-eagle live in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, this guide records the Flores hawk-eagle in: Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Alor (Nusa Tenggara).
The Flores hawk-eagle is endemic to Indonesia and lives naturally only in Lesser Sundas (Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Alor and several nearby islets). Source: BirdLife DataZone.
Source-supported habitats: Tropical Rainforests.
What does the Flores hawk-eagle eat?
Diet of the Flores hawk-eagle: poorly studied; reported to take village chickens. That makes it a carnivore (meat-eater). Source: AVONET bird trait database (Tobias et al. 2022).
How does the Flores hawk-eagle reproduce?
The Flores hawk-eagle reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Vigie-Nature École (MNHN).
Is the Flores hawk-eagle nocturnal?
The cited source records the Flores hawk-eagle as diurnal (active by day). Source: EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014, Ecology 95:2027), BirdFuncDat.txt.
See also the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia.
What are the main features of the Flores hawk-eagle?
Key features of the Flores hawk-eagle, from this guide’s sources: Key feature: white head and white patch on upper wing.
What is the scientific classification of the Flores hawk-eagle?
Scientific classification of the Flores hawk-eagle: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Accipitriformes, family Accipitridae, genus Nisaetus, species Nisaetus floris.
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.
Is the Flores hawk-eagle endangered?
Yes. On the IUCN Red List, the Flores hawk-eagle is listed as Endangered: it is considered to face a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Source: IUCN Red List (via GBIF), checked 1 October 2026.
This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is the Flores hawk-eagle protected in Indonesia?
Is the Flores hawk-eagle protected in Indonesia?
Yes. The Flores hawk-eagle (Nisaetus floris) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 195).
Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.
If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.
Can the Flores hawk-eagle be kept as a pet?
No. Because the Flores hawk-eagle is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.
If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.
Compare with similar animals
Sources & references
- 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) ↗
- JDIH Kementerian Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (PDF, dengan lampiran) ↗
- AVONET bird trait database (Tobias et al. 2022) ↗
- Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) ↗
- EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014, Ecology 95:2027), BirdFuncDat.txt ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- 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. How we use sources and data →
National parks where it is recorded
According to the official national park profiles from the KSDAE directorate. The animal may also live elsewhere.
Cite this page
Credit PanduanHewan when referring to this page. Check the original evidence sources before reusing a claim.
PanduanHewan. Flores hawk-eagle (Nisaetus floris). Last substantive update: 1 October 2026. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/flores-hawk-eagle/