Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Clanga clanga
Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Rare migrant · Size: 65–72 cm · Conservation: Vulnerable
Breeds across eastern Europe east to southern Ussuriland and northeastern China. Winters to southern Europe, northeast Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Indochina, with small numbers reaching the Thai-Malay Peninsula and occasionally Sumatra.
A large eagle with overall dark brown plumage, dark brown underwing coverts, slightly pale primaries and secondaries with dark wingtips, distinctive patch at the base of outer primaries, and a white vent. There is also a rare fulvescens morph which has a mostly buffish to rufous body and wing coverts, and contrasting black flight feathers and tail.
Open country.
Takes carrion; also forages opportunistically over open ground.