Mountain Hawk-eagle

The mountain hawk-eagle is a large Asian raptor with feathered tarsi, placing it among the booted eagles. Hodgson described Nisaetus nipalensis in 1836. Older sources use Spizaetus nipalensis, but genetic work showed that Old World hawk-eagles belong in Nisaetus. Its long crest, barred flight feathers and mountain-forest setting aid recognition, although related hawk-eagles can be similar (general species account; ITIS).

It inhabits forested mountains from the Himalayas through mainland Southeast Asia to Taiwan and Japan. The opened account confirms breeding across much of Asia but does not establish a regular Korean breeding population, so Korean occurrence needs diagnostic photographs. Diet, nest and status claims are omitted where sources did not document them for Korea. This treatment separates a supported regional range from uncertain local frequency (general species account).