Philippine honey buzzard

The Philippine honey buzzard (Pernis steerei) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to forested lowlands of the Philippines, with the exception of Palawan.

The body ranges from 52.5 cm to 55.3 cm in males and 52 cm to 59 cm in females; the wingspan is 2.1 times total length.

From above, the tail and broad rounded wings appear umber mingled with white; from below, both are pale and dark-banded, including a broad terminal band on the tail. The chest, belly and head are white and streaked, or pale to cream in juveniles. A dark brown crest extends from the back of the head and distinguishes P. steerei from P. celebensis, alongside paler plumage on the head and back. Eyes sport a bright golden iris in adults and a brown line running through from the beak to the back of the head. Raptorial dark grey beak and yellow legs, with claws averaging 20 to 22 cm. As expected from its short tarsus, narrow bill and square-cut tail, three indicators of foraging strategy, P. steerei is either seen perched upright on large branches or soaring.

Subspecies P. s. winkleri displays more typical raptorial sexual dimorphism than nominate P. s. steerei, as well as a juvenile-like homogenous brown plumage.