Note from Field - Steppe Eagle Hunting Behavior

I have a few season where I manage to observed and study the hunting behavior of Steppe Eagle. Please bare in mind that this behavior is document in some part of Malaysia. If this behavior is unique to common through out require further study.

Majority of the age in Malaysia are juvenile up to year 4. To date no adult have been documented in Peninsula Malaysia. This is rather unlike Greater Spotted Eagle and Imperial Eagle where both species adult have been recorded in Malaysia. 

During the observation there is unique 2 hunting method which can describe as in below

Hunting method 1:

The bird remain as soaring hunter and soar approximately 50 meter above ground where occasionally 30 meter above ground. Crucial detail where the bird remain scanning the ground. It is noted a few time that prey are not detected directly below but approximately up to 100 meter away. The bird using element of surprise will slowly glide while reducing their height approach the prey. The bird will drop on the prey and kill it on the ground. Snatching off from the ground and carrying the prey are never recorded in Peninsula Malaysia.

Hunting Method 2:

This method is more pirate then hunting. Similar with above method of soaring the bird keep an eye for potential prey and also other raptor flying nearby. Where raptor with prey are sighted usually such as Peregrine Falcon, Black Eared Kite, Black Shouldered Kite and also Brahminy Kite.
The bird will flew directly to the smaller raptor maintaining height of the victim. In all observation the bird remain the leg down making appearance of a plane with their landing gear have been lowered. Once near the victim, the raptor frighten by stooping to the other raptor making them dropping their prey. Similar as the method one, prey are rarely lift and taken away but feed immediately.

In both method, in one occasion 2 juvenile have been observed together but there is no evidence in behavior that both individual are assisting each other in hunting. 

The above are new to Peninsula Malaysia as there were no such behavioral record in Peninsula Malaysia. It will be crucial where more expert to document such behavior to see the similarities to other individual in other part of Asia .

9th January 2021

New updated on hunting method have been document. Refer to the link below.

Steppe Eagle hunting continue