Black Eagle

Large and distinctive dark eagle of forested mountains and hills. Adults appear all dark from a distance, but closer inspection reveals pale barring on the primaries, secondaries, and undertail, as well as a bright yellow bill and feet. Readily separated from other large birds of prey in range by structure as well as coloration; Black Eagles have broad wings with distinct “fingers”(emarginated primaries) in the tip, as well as a long tail that is fan-shaped when open and slightly wedge-shaped when closed.

Black eagles (Ictinaetus malaiensis) in Sri Lanka live in forests, open areas, and hills. They are most common in higher hills and isolated forested hills.

In Sri Lanka, the Black Eagle primarily feeds on small mammals like giant squirrels (Ratufa macroura), rats, and occasionally birds and their eggs, with a significant portion of their diet consisting of nestlings taken directly from nests due to their unique hunting style of soaring low over the forest canopy; studies have shown that in Sri Lankan Black Eagle nests, around 65% of observed food deliveries were giant squirrels and 35% were rats.