Apart from birds, it kills only an occasional squirrel. It occasionally attacks domestic poultry and pigeons. Birds are mainly caught on tree branches, but are occasionally taken in flight also. Voice This is, compared with most, a fairly noisy eagle, especially in display and at the nest. In the field this bird can be distinguished by its dark and heavily marked and barred appearance below, and often by its whitish eyebrow and a white spot at the base of the wing as it approaches.
Some males are mostly white and have a very pronounced white eyebrow.
Dark phase immatures are dark dull brown, darker than young Bonelli's Eagles. A relatively rare and little-known bird throughout its range. It is not often found in the densest rain forests or in open country. It may occasionally appear in more open country when making local movements, but a pair is usually resident close to their breeding site. It is most likely to be seen when on the wing above the forest trees, although it spends more of its time perched on a tree than on the wing.