Rare raptor: Endangered Philippine hawk-eagle spotted in Sagada

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Native only to the Philippines, the Philippine hawk-eagle plays a crucial ecological role in keeping small animal populations in check

MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, Philippines – In the quiet aftermath of an afternoon downpour on Friday, April 18, a rare and powerful presence emerged from the pine forests of Sagada, Mountain Province. Soaking wet and perched along the roadside, a juvenile Philippine hawk-eagle (Nisaetus philippensis) stunned three local first aiders as they were heading home from duty at Sumaguing Cave.

“We saw it on our way home from our shift,” said Sally Pongawi, a registered nurse assigned to provide medical assistance to tourists during the Holy Week crowd surge. “It looked drenched from the rain, and at first, we were just worried — it looked so out of place.”

Later, Pongawi posted a photo of the mysterious bird on Facebook, asking friends and the wider community to help identify it. What they stumbled upon wasn’t just any bird. It was one of the Philippines’ most elusive raptors, classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Linda Claire Inso-Pawid, chief of the Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR CAR), confirmed the bird’s identity: “Yes, it’s a Philippine hawk-eagle, maybe nearing adulthood. It’s good that one was sighted. They love our pine forests.”

Pawid added that the DENR CAR will look into formally documenting the sighting — an important step in mapping the species’ local distribution, especially in under-surveyed areas like the Mountain Province.

Rare and elusive

The Philippine hawk-eagle is a striking raptor with fierce yellow eyes, feathered legs, and bold streaks across its underparts. Juveniles, like the one spotted in Sagada, tend to have paler plumage. It is often mistaken for the Philippine eagle — the country’s national bird — but this bird is smaller, quicker, and found in a broader range of forest types.

Native only to the Philippines, this hawk-eagle plays a crucial ecological role in keeping small animal populations in check. It typically hunts snakes, birds, and small mammals in forested areas, often staying hidden in the canopy.

Although more commonly recorded in places like Sierra Madre, Aurora, and parts of Mindanao, the Philippine hawk-eagle can and does occur in Luzon’s Cordillera range, including Sagada.

“Sightings in the Mountain Province are very rare,” said Pawid, “which is why this report is exciting — it means we still have healthy patches of forest that can support top predators.”

Sagada’s mosaic of pine and mossy cloud forests provides a suitable, if vulnerable, habitat. The terrain, while remote, is not immune to deforestation, tourism-related pressure, and road development — all of which reduce potential nesting and hunting grounds for wildlife like the hawk-eagle.

The Philippine hawk-eagle is both a symbol of strength and a gauge of forest health. That it still soars, albeit rarely, over Sagada means there is still something left to protect.

And for Pongawi and her companions, it was a moment of wonder wrapped in a routine day of public service. “We just wanted to make sure it was okay,” she said.

It turns out, in doing so, they helped us all see a little more clearly what’s still out there, waiting to be seen and saved.

Have you seen a rare bird or animal in the wild? Report sightings to your local DENR office or visit the Biodiversity Management Bureau’s website at bmb.gov.ph for more information. – Rappler.com