This Changeable Hawk-Eagle was unusually active that day. I’m still not sure what triggered it, but it was definitely not happy with people being around.
It kept flying towards us and trying to attack. At one point, it came at me hard enough to tear my shirt.
When I tried to record what was happening with my camera, it even went for the camera.
At first I thought maybe it was something about me, but when my friend arrived, the same thing happened to him. The eagle started going after him too.
I’ve spent many years around birds, but this was definitely one of the more unusual encounters I’ve had with a Changeable Hawk-Eagle. I still don’t know exactly why it was so aggressive that day, and I don’t want to make assumptions about what was causing the behaviour.
It was a little crazy, but also a really interesting experience to witness such behaviour at close range.
Definitely a birding moment I won’t forget anytime soon.
Changeable Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus cirrhatus