Eastern imperial eagle

Eastern imperial eagle
Subadult of typical transitional plumage at the Little Rann of Kutch
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aquila
Species:
A. heliaca
Binomial name
Aquila heliaca
Savigny, 1809
Distribution of Aquila heliaca:
  Breeding
  Resident
  Passage
  Non-breeding
Synonyms

Aquila heliaca heliaca

The eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a large bird of prey that breeds in southeastern Europe and extensively through West and Central Asia. Most populations are migratory and winter in northeastern Africa, the Middle East and South and East Asia.[3] Like all eagles, the eastern imperial eagle is a member of the family Accipitridae. Furthermore, its feathered legs mark it as a member of the subfamily Aquilinae. It is a large, dark-colored eagle, with a resemblance to other members of the genus Aquila but it is usually the darkest species in its range.[4] This is an opportunistic predator that mostly selects smallish mammals as prey but also a fairly large proportion of birds, reptile and other prey types, including carrion. Compared to other Aquila eagles, it has a strong preference for the interface of tall woods with plains and other open, relatively flat habitats, including the wooded mosaics of the steppe. Normally, nests are located in large, mature trees and the parents raise around one or two fledglings.[3][5] The global population is small and declining due to persecution, loss of habitat and prey. It has therefore been IUCN Red Listed as Vulnerable since 1994.[1]

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2019). "Aquila heliaca". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22696048A155464885. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22696048A155464885.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ^ a b Ferguson-Lees, J.; Christie, D. (2001). Raptors of the World. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-618-12762-3.
  4. ^ Forsman, D. (1999). The raptors of Europe and the Middle East: a handbook of field identification. London: T & AD Poyser.
  5. ^ Meyburg, B.U. (1994). "Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)". In del Hoyo; Elliott; Sargatal (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2. pp. 194–195. ISBN 84-87334-15-6.