Lesser Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga humilis Scientific name definitions

Due to the Lesser Fish-Eagle's dull coloration and simple plumage pattern, it may not catch an onlooker's fancy at the beginning, but its exclusive habitat preferences, interesting habits, and unique adaptations will soon draw attention!

Lesser Fish-Eagle feeds exclusively on fish and is generally restricted to riverine forests, though in some areas it uses inland open water bodies, and rarely, estuaries. The species has powerful claws that are well-adapted to catch and hold slippery fish. Like the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), the talons are long and strongly curved, and the soles of the toes are rough and thickly barbed with minute spicules for gripping fish. Their presence in an area is often given away by their striking "wailing" calls. Birds mostly forage along the edge of a water body in the shallows. They typically perch on an overhanging branch looking for potential prey, and once they detect a fish, launch into the water to grab it. Due to this "wait-and-watch" behavior, the bird may not be very conspicuous during most parts of the day in the non-breeding season, except when soaring or moving from one perch to another. During the breeding season, the birds become very vocal and soar for extended periods.

Though Lesser Fish-Eagle is distributed over a wide area, their overall numbers are low and declining in most areas. This species also has a "confusing cousin," the Gray-headed Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus), which looks similar, has a very similar geographic distribution, and shares somewhat similar habits and habitats.