KOREA FOUNDATION

The Philippine Eagle, the national bird of the Philippines, is a bird of prey of the family Accipitridae under the order Accipitriformes. It was once so a common sight throughout the Philippines and Southeast Asia that “eagle” and “Philippine Eagle” remain synonymous in the region.

The gold plumage on the bird’s head makes it arguably one of the most handsome birds of prey in the world, together with the Harpy Eagle.

As its name suggests, the Philippine Eagle is primarily found in the Philippines, with its habitat spanning the principal islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. The largest population can be found on Mindanao. However, its numbers have declined drastically in the present due to poaching and the destruction of tropical rainforest.

The Philippine Eagle has a long life span but reproduces very slowly, mating with a single partner for life and laying just one egg every two to three years. This slow rate of reproduction means Philippine Eagle populations are slow to recover.

The Philippine Eagle is classified as critically endangered (CR) on the International Union for Conservation for the Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.