Gurney's eagle is a large eagle in the family Accipitridae. It is found in New Guinea and Wallacea, and is an occasional vagrant to Australia.
Region
New Guinea and Wallacea
Typical Environment
Occurs throughout much of New Guinea, nearby islands such as the Bismarck Archipelago, and east Indonesian islands within Wallacea. Prefers extensive primary and tall secondary forests but also uses forest edges, river corridors, and mountainous ridges. It is chiefly a canopy and above-canopy hunter, often soaring to survey large tracts of habitat. Rare vagrants reach northern Australia.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Gurney's eagle is a powerful forest raptor of New Guinea and Wallacea, often seen soaring above ridges and forest edges. Adults are mostly dark, while juveniles are noticeably paler below, which can cause confusion with other large raptors. It hunts a wide range of prey from birds to reptiles and small mammals. Ongoing forest loss is the primary threat across parts of its range.
Gurney's eagle, immature or subadult.
Skin of a juvenile Gurney's eagle.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
soaring glider
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, with pairs holding large territories over tracts of forest. Courtship includes mutual soaring and display flights over ridgelines. Nests are large stick platforms placed high in emergent trees; clutch size is small and breeding cycles are prolonged, as in many large eagles.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Generally quiet, but gives high, thin whistles and yelping calls, especially near the nest or during display. Vocalizations carry over valleys when birds are circling high. Calling is most frequent during the breeding season.
Plumage
Adult mostly dark sooty-brown to blackish with slightly paler flight feathers and faint tail barring; juvenile shows much paler, buffy underparts with darker flight feather contrast. Broad wings with a slightly bulging secondaries line and a fairly long, rounded tail. Feathering extends well down the tarsi.
Diet
Takes a varied prey base including medium-sized birds (pigeons, megapodes), small to medium mammals (such as cuscuses and rodents), reptiles like snakes and large lizards, and occasionally large insects. Hunts by soaring to locate prey and then stooping or by perch-hunting from high vantage points within the forest. Will carry prey to a feeding perch or the nest.
Preferred Environment
Hunts along forest edges, above the canopy, and across broken forest mosaics where visibility is good. Riverine corridors and ridge tops are favored for soaring and scanning.
