Are There Eagles In Vietnam?

Vietnam
credit: Tyler Ingram

Vietnam is a particularly interesting country with a very diverse range of climates and habitats. The diverse nature of Vietnam is the perfect breeding ground for a wide range of animals, including many birds of prey. Any birders visiting Vietnam find themselves wondering what birds of prey can be seen in this region, particularly which eagles can be sighted here.

Several eagle species are found in Vietnam, including the Crested Serpent Eagle, the Black Eagle, the Rufous-Bellies Eagle, The Steppe Eagle, several fish eagle species, and the stunning Imperial Eagle. Vietnam hosts several fascinating species of raptors and other birds of prey.

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Are There Eagles In Vietnam?

The name ‘eagle’ is somewhat ambiguous if you ask real birders, as many birds that are generally considered to be eagles are not true eagles, as they do not meet every criterion for true eagles.

However, with that said, there are many birds of prey in Vietnam, and it is important not to exclude any based on these trivial definitions, or we will miss out on several of the beautiful raptors found in Vietnam.

There are eagles in Vietnam. There are several species of eagles found in this country in almost every region, and they can be easily found if you intentionally look for them.

It is not always easy to find eagles in Vietnam, and they are not common in all regions, but there are several different species present here.

Some of the eagles that can be seen in Vietnam are seasonal, as they are migratory birds or birds that only pass through Vietnam at certain times of the year.

This means that there is a variety of eagles that can be seen in Vietnam depending on the time of year and the season.

What Eagles Are Found In Vietnam?

There are several eagles found in Vietnam, and many of them are relatively common.

The list of eagles found in Vietnam includes:

  • The Crested Serpent Eagle
  • The Short-Toed Snake Eagle
  • The Changeable Hawk Eagle
  • The Mountain Haw Eagle
  • The Rufous-Bellied Eagle
  • The Black Eagle
  • The Greater Spotted Eagle
  • The Booted Eagle
  • The Steppe Eagle
  • The Imperial Eagle
  • The Bonelli’s Eagle
  • The White Tailed Eagle
  • The Palla’s Fish Eagle
  • The White-Bellied Sea Eagle
  • The Lesser Fish Eagle
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) in Halong Bay, Vietnam
Tyler Ingram Black Kite (Milvus migrans) in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Many of the eagles found in Vietnam are considered to be true eagles and possess all of the criteria to meet this definition, but all of the birds on this list meet the loose definition of an eagle.

There are several other birds of prey found in Vietnam, and many that are very similar in size and behaviors to eagles, including several species of buzzards.

How Common Are Eagles In Vietnam?

Eagles are found throughout the region of Vietnam. There are more eagle species in Asian countries such as Vietnam as there are in most other places in the world, but how common are eagles in Vietnam? Are they difficult to find?

Flag of the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Vietnam
Vietnam Flag of the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Vietnam

Some species of eagle are far more common in Vietnam than others. Eagles such as the Crested Serpent Eagle are common in many areas and can be easy to find.

The Black Eagle is commonly seen in the mountainous regions of Vietnam, the Fish Eagle species are found along the coast of the country and on the nearby islands, but buzzards such as the Oriental Honey Buzzard are far more common than any of the eagles.

There are some areas where eagles can be seen easily, and some eagles are much more common than others in Vietnam, but the truth is that you will need to go out and look for them if eagles are something that you are interested in observing during your visit to Vietnam.

Very few eagles are seen from the cities, and even fewer are seen when exploring the jungle simply because the jungle is so dense.

To see eagles in Vietnam, travelers must explore some of the higher, less dense regions of the country or the mountain regions.

How Many Eagles Are There In Vietnam?

Birders who visit this part of the world are always fascinated to see the various birds in Vietnam, and many find themselves wondering how many eagles there are in the region.

It is almost impossible to determine how many eagles there are in Vietnam. Many of the eagle species here are not permanent residents, which immediately causes the numbers to fluctuate, and the eagles that are permanent residents in the area are very difficult to identify and track.

This means that determining how many eagles there are in Vietnam is not possible, and the answer to the question is not known.

However, it is safe to say that there are several specimens of each species of eagle found in Vietnam, and anyone who knows how to find these birds will be able to observe them quite easily.

Can Tourists See Eagles In Vietnam?

Finding eagles in Vietnam is not too difficult for locals who know where to find them, but is it possible for tourists to find and observe eagles in this country?

It is challenging to find eagles in Vietnam, but any tourists who are specifically interested in observing these birds can find local birders, guides, and conservationists who can help them to find eagles in the wild.

The locals who observe these birds can find them quite easily, so if you want to see eagles in Vietnam, try to find someone who can help you.

If traveling with locals is not an option for you, the only other way to see eagles in Vietnam is to allow for significant time on the ground.

If you have enough free time to spend in the country, and if you spend a few weeks searching for eagles, you are sure to find plenty of them, but it will require a significant time investment to see them up close or to find them engaging in interesting behaviors such as hunting.

Where Can You See Eagles In Vietnam?

If you want to find local eagles in Vietnam, the best thing to do is to look up the time of year when you can see the eagles you want to find.

Some of the eagles in Vietnam are residents, while others are visitors, as they only pass through at certain times of the year.

However, if you are looking to find eagles year-round, there are some specific places to go.

The Black Eagle is a resident of Vietnam and can be commonly found in mountain regions, including DaLat and Bach Ma. Nam Cat is a great place to go to see Palla’s Fish Eagle and the Lesser Fish Eagle, and the White-Bellied Sea Eagle can be seen all along the coastal areas and islands of Vietnam.

The Crested Serpent Eagle, which is the most common, as well as the Rufous-Bellied Eagle, can be seen from DaLat to Bi Doup. The Haw Eagle species can be seen in DaNang and Kontum. Bonelli’s Eagle can be seen in Cuc Phuong, but it is very rare.

The best way to find places to see eagles is to speak to local birders and guides who know how to find them, where to find them, and the best time of year to observe them.

Are Eagles Popular In Vietnam?

Vietnam is known for many things, and it is a wonderful country to visit, but how popular are the eagles of Vietnam for travelers?

The reality is that birding is a very small niche activity in any country, and there are many other characteristics of Vietnam that bring in travelers. This means that the eagles of Vietnam are not particularly popular.

There are several beautiful eagles found in Vietnam, and there are a few birders who come to Vietnam every year to observe the birds in this country, but the Eagles are unfortunately not a major draw for tourism in Vietnam.