The Javan Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi) (earlier placed in Spizaetus) is a medium-sized, approximately 60 cm long, dark brown raptor in the family Accipitridae. Its head and neck are rufous and it is heavily barred black below. It has a long black crest with a white tip. The sexes are similar. The young is duller and has unmarked underparts.
An Indonesian endemic, the Javan Hawk-Eagle occurs in humid tropical forests of Java. Its range in East Java includes Sempu Island, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Meru Betiri National Park and Alas Purwo National Park. It can also be seen in captivity in zoos like Kebun Binatang Bandung
The Javan Hawk-Eagle is believed to be monogamous. The female usually lays one egg in a nest high on top of a forest tree. The diet consists mainly of birds, lizards, fruit bats and mammals.
The Javan Hawk-Eagle is the national bird of Indonesia, where it is commonly referred to as Garuda, from the bird-like creatures in Hindu and Buddhist myths. The scientific name commemorates Hans Bartels.
Because of the plumage variability of Spizaetus eagles, the Javan Hawk-Eagle was not recognised as a full species until 1953.
It is one of the rarest raptors. Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range and hunting in some areas, it is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
In February 2012, there were only around 325 pairs of Javan Hawk-Eagles living in the wild, mainly in Malangbong, West Java forest area and some in East Java, but in Central Java, Mount Merapi forest area is denuded by eruptions and Dieng plateau forest area is denuded for agriculture. The adaptation of the bird is very difficult due to they prefer endemic Rasamala tree and endemic Javanese rat for their diet. Ideally the population should be 1,450 pairs and without conservation the eagle predicted will extinct in 2025.