The national animal of the Philippines is the Philippine eagle. This is a species of eagle also known as the monkey-eating eagle which is sadly critically endangered. They are among the most important national symbols in the Philippines and as their name suggests they are endemic to the forests of the Philippines.
It can often be quite difficult to tell different species of eagle apart to the untrained eye, but the Philippine eagle does not have this problem.
It is instantly striking and internationally recognized in appearance, and so it is and has been a very important national symbol in the Philippines.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of the Philippines?
The national animal of the Philippines is the Philippine eagle.
This is a large species of eagle endemic to Philippines’ forests, with brown and white plumage, and a shaggy crest on their heads.
In terms of length and wing surface area, they are considered the world’s largest eagle species, though in terms of weight the Stellar’s sea eagle and the harpy eagle are larger.
They were first identified by Europeans in 1896, when John Whitehead observed the bird from a collected specimen.
It has also been known, since these early days of its scientific categorization, as the monkey-eating eagle, due to reports that it preyed only on monkeys.
However, later studies showed that, while the species certainly does prey on monkeys, this is not its exclusive diet.
They generally measure anywhere from 2.8 to 3.3 feet in length and weigh around 9 to 17 pounds.
They have a nape adorned with long, brown feathers, giving it its iconic crest atop its head.
They have a dark face and their backs are dark brown, while their undersides are white.
They have heavy legs which are yellow and powerful claws.
Their beaks are bluish gray.
Males are believed to be about 10% smaller than the females, though the exact degree of sexual dimorphism is not certain.
The complete breeding cycle lasts around two years, and females become sexually mature at around five years old.
Males, though, take a bit longer, and are mature by around seven years old.
They are monogamous and tend to mate for life, like most eagle species.
They build a nest together to signal the beginning of courtship and aerial displays are also an important part of this.
These beautiful birds, though, are under profound threat from the destruction of their habitat—so why are they the national animal of the Philippines?
Why is the Philippine eagle the national animal of the Philippines?
The Philippine eagle plays a number of symbolic roles in the country’s sense of national identity.
One part of this is symbolic and metaphorical.
They are seen as king of the skies and indeed the forests they inhabit.
They are extremely large birds and this alone is enough to cause them to be seen as symbols of strength, courage, pride and boldness.
All of these things are important to the Philippines’ sense of national identity.
On the other hand, they are more literal embodiments of Filipino natural beauty.
Few animals are as striking in appearance as any large eagle, let alone eagles with such bold head crests.
They are seen, then, to embody the spirit and beauty of the nation’s forests and mountains, and few would argue that they are not among the most beautiful creatures in all of Filipino wildlife.
Of course, though, as mentioned, there is the question of their conservation.
They are a critically endangered species because their woodland habitat has been ravaged over the past decades and they have been forced to a smaller and smaller habitat.
By making them the national animal, the Filipino government hopes to bring attention to their plight.
What do Philippine eagles eat?
As mentioned, the Philippine eagle is known for its tendency to eat monkeys.
This, it certainly does, and will prey on monkeys in the tree tops and forest canopy.
But they are not exclusively monkey eating as their popular name suggests.
They also eat colugos, which are arboreal gliding mammals found in Filipino forests.
They also eat large snakes and monitor lizards very frequently, and even sometimes large birds like hornbills.
So, they prey on a wide variety of large animals, which is unsurprising given their enormous size.
They are powerful birds with a big appetite.
Where do Philippine eagles live?
As mentioned they are endemic to the Philippines and can be found on the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.
The largest population is found on Mindanao, with around 233 breeding pairs being the highest estimate for this island.
They live in the forests of these islands and will nest high in the trees, and they can also be found in national parks across the country.
They are found in dipterocarp and mid montane forests, usually in very steep areas.
They can range in elevation from the lowlands to as high as almost 6,000 feet.
Their total range is estimated to be around 56,000 square miles today.
This eagle, then, is a dangerous position and major efforts will need to be undertaken to ensure its future survival.
They are among the Philippines’ most iconic animals and are recognized both in the country and internationally for their striking visual appearance.
They embody many things to many people in the Philippines, but no matter who you talk to you can be sure that they are known and recognized.