October 18, 2025
  • A rare black eagle has been spotted for the first time in the lush Chail wildlife sanctuary located in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district.

ABOUT BLACK EAGLE (ICTINAETUS MALAIENSIS)

  • It belongs to the family Accipitridae.
  • It is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus.
  • These are large and distinctive dark eagles of forested mountains and hills.
  • The distinguishing feature of the majestic bird is its striking yellow beak, a vibrant contrast to its black feathers.
  • They hunt mammals and birds, particularly at their nests.
  • Global distribution- Found in in the hilly regions of tropical and subtropical South and Southeast Asia, as well as southeastern China.
    • In India, they are found in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, forests of the Eastern and Western Ghats in peninsular India.
  • A Unique behaviour of the black eagle is – a preference for the treetop canopy, where it seemingly finds its perfect perch amidst the foliage.
  • Conservation status
    • IUCN red list: Least concern

ABOUT CHAIL SANCTUARY

  • It is home to a variety of species such as the pine pheasant, barking deer, leopard, ghoral and sambar.
  • It is spread over 110 sq. km.
  • The park is also home to a variety of birds. Cheer pheasant and kalij pheasant are the most popular birds that can be sighted in the sanctuary.
  • Golden eagle and grey headed flycatcher can also be seen flying.
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