Jerdon’s Baza

Scientific Name: Aviceda jerdoni
Malay Name: Helang-Gerigi Perang
Chinese Name: 褐冠鹃隼

Range:
Breeds in scattered locations across India, Nepal, continental southeast Asia, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines and Sulawesi. Some populations from the north migrate south through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Taxonomy:
Polytypic. Subspecies are: jerdoni, ceylonensis, borneensis, magnirostris, celebensis.

Local Subspecies: jerdoni

Size: 46 cm

Identification:
Pale brown underparts with dense dark brown barring, darker brown upperparts, with distinct crest typically seen when perched. Underwing coverts strongly marked dark brown. Combination of plumage features and distinct paddle-like wing shape rules out all other species locally.

Similar looking species: Crested Honey Buzzard, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Eastern Buzzard, Common Buzzard

Habitat: Woodland.

Behaviour/Ecology: Much less common than the congeneric Black Baza, but the small numbers that winter in Singapore tend to form groups as well.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2020)

Location: Observed migrating across key raptor watch sites. Small numbers have been observed wintering around Lorong Halus semi-regularly.

Featured articles:

• Bird List Revision for May 2019 (Revisions)
• RAP301: What is that raptor? (ID Articles)
• Singapore Birds Project Raptor Watch at Henderson Waves (Blog)

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Jerdon’s Baza at Jelutong Tower. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Jerdon’s Baza at Bishan Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Jerdon’s Baza at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Jerdon’s Baza at Bishan Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Jerdon’s Baza at Bishan Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Jerdon’s Baza at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Jerdon’s Baza at Changi. Photo Credit: Con Foley