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- Notes - Scientific name: Pithecophaga jefferyi Family: Accipitridae Local names: Aguila (Tag); Aguila, Manaol (Vis); Mamboogook, Malamboogook, Banog (Bagobo, Mandaya, Manobo, Tagaka-olo); Garuda, Manaol (Maranao, Maguindanao); Tipule (Subano) Other common names: Great Philippine Eagle Conservation status: CR (Critically Endangered) The pale whitish buff on the head of the Philippine Eagle forms a long, full crest. The rest of the body is generally brown, paler on the margin and dark brown on the tail. The underparts are a uniform creamy white, while the thighs and long flank feathers feature reddish-brown shaft stripes. Iris, dull creamy brown with an outer ring of brownish red. Legs and feet full yellow. The claws are black. Face and base of bill full french-blue, tip of the bill is black, and base of the bill is grayer. Wing, 525; tall, 381; bill, greatest depth, measured from base to cere to ridge of culmen, 38; from base of cere to ip; 38; tarsus, 118; middle toe without claws, 68; claw, measured in a straight line from base to tip, 37; hind toe without claw, 46; claw, 51. Restricted to the eastern part of the country in Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao and Samar, in mid-mountain to highland forests. In Mindanao where the flying lemur is common, the bird has shifted locale in preference to it. This specie feeds on monkeys and small mammals; breeds once a year with only one egg being laid in November in a nest of hug branches of varying sizes, lodged on the fork of a limb 90-100 feet off the ground. The egg is incubated by both parents, with the female doing most of the work, for 60-61 days. while incubating and brooding, the male does most of the hunting. The chick leaves the nest in 104-105 days. This majestic birds is supposed to be fully protected by law, but is now extremely rare with only 44 individuals reported still living in its entire range. The threat of its extinction is due to the continued procurement of the eagles for zoo trade abroad and locally, for trophies, indiscriminate destruction of large areas of lowland and medium elevation primary forests both in Luzon and Mindanao, continued capture of young birds from the nest to be kept as pets and inadequate support for the enforcement of conservation laws as promulgated by the government.
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