Note From Field - Wallace's Hawk Eagle Hunting Behaviour

I have some opportunity to observe Wallace's Hawk Eagle (WHE) a species which I think rather rare in Peninsula Malaysia but more commonly seen in Borneo. As my observation is mainly restricted to 3 state Kedah, Perak and Pahang I'm only plan to describe this detail from observation in this selected location. Borneo may or may not behave the same and it will be good to hear from other as i have only sighted one observation of such behavior to established if this was consistent.

The Wallace's Hawk Eagle are only known for one hunting method. Mainly prey is detected from a perch usually on an emergent tree or a perch where underneath the canopy have wide room of view. Bird will perch silently on the perch searching for its prey. Once the prey is detected the WHE will flew towards the prey. This can happen in 2 illustration as in below. 

First the prey can be grip and snatch directly from the branch. Second method is that the prey move and the WHE will enter a perch. From there the WHE will move from branch to branch sometimes appear as running up and down the branch to chase the prey.

Either of the method there is one crucial detail noted. Each step or short flight are always below canopy. The bird in all observation did not go above the canopy. Thus the suggestion that the soaring WHE are not hunting but territorial patrol.

Prey item such as Low's Squirrel and Slender Squirrel remain in most of the observation. Other squirrel are not identified but are suspected to be either of the both mention.

The above observation have been documented with record dating up to 15 years back and 2 nest record was observed one in Kedah and another in Pahang. Hunting behavior for nesting pair are the same. It is however not clear if the female are bring in larger prey but this have not been observed in both the nest. As off this write up the above method have been consistent in all the individual observed hunting.