Eagles
Birds of Prey ... The Sport of Falconry
Eagles are large birds of prey which inhabit mainly the Old World, with only two species (Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle) commonly found in North America, a few in South America, the (White-bellied Sea Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle) in Australia and the Philippine Eagle in the Philippine Archipelago. They are members of the bird order Falconiformes, family Accipitridae and belong to several different genera, not necessarily closely related to each other.
Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species (the Bald and Golden Eagles) can be found in the USA and Canada, nine more in Central and South America, and three in Australia.
In Britain before 1678, Eagle referred specifically to the Golden Eagle, the other native species, the White-tailed Eagle, being known as the Ernee. The modern name "Golden Eagle" for Aquila chrysaetos was introduced by the naturalist John Ray.
Eagles are sometimes used in falconry.
Description
Eagles are differentiated from other broad-winged birds of prey mainly by their larger size, more powerful build, and heavier head and beak. Even the smallest eagles, like the Booted Eagle (which is comparable in size to a Common Buzzard or Red-tailed Hawk) have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from the vultures.
Species named as eagles can range in size from the South Nicobar Serpent-eagle, at 500 grams (1.1 pounds) and 40 cm (16 in), to the 6.7-kg Steller's Sea Eagle and the 100 cm (39 in) Philippine Eagle.
Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong muscular legs, and powerful talons. They also have extremely keen eyesight which enables them to spot potential prey from a very long distance. This keen eyesight is primarily contributed by their extremely large pupils which ensure minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light.
Nesting / Breeding
Eagles build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Their nests can grow to 10 feet in diameter and weigh as much as 2000 pounds.
Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. The dominant chick tends to be the female, as they are bigger than the male. The parents take no action to stop the killing.
Taxonomy
Major new research into eagle taxonomy suggests that the important genera Aquila and Hieraaetus are not composed of nearest relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these genera will soon take place, with some species being moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus.
- Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle and African Hawk-eagle have been moved from Hieraaetus to Aquila.
- Either the Greater Spotted Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle should move from Aquila to join the Long-crested Eagle in Lophaetus, or, perhaps better, all three of these species should move to Ictinaetus with the Black Eagle.
- Steppe and Tawny Eagles, once thought to be conspecific (of, or belonging to, the same species), but are shown not even to be each other's nearest relatives.
- Subfamily Buteoninae - hawks (buzzards), true eagles and sea-eagles
- Genus Geranoaetus
- Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Geranoaetus melanoleucus
- Genus Harpyhaliaetus
- Crowned Solitary Eagle, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus
- Solitary Eagle, H. solitarius
- Genus Morphnus
- Crested Eagle, Morphnus guianensis
- Genus Harpia
- Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja
- Genus Pithecophaga
- Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi
- Genus Harpyopsis
- New Guinea Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae
- Genus Oroaetus
- Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Oroaetus isidori
- Genus Spizaetus
- Cassin's Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus africanus
- Changeable Hawk-eagle, S. cirrhatus
- Mountain Hawk-eagle, S. nipalensis
- Blyth's Hawk-eagle, S. alboniger
- Javan Hawk-eagle, S. bartelsi
- Sulawesi Hawk-eagle, S. lanceolatus
- Philippine Hawk-eagle, S. philippensis
- Wallace's Hawk-eagle, S. nanus
- Black Hawk-eagle, S. tyrannus
- Ornate Hawk-eagle, S. ornatus
- Black-and-white Hawk-eagle, S. melanoleucus
- Genus Lophaetus
- Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis - possibly belongs in Ictinaetus
- Genus Stephanoaetus
- Crowned Hawk-eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus
- Genus Polemaetus
- Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
- Genus Hieraaetus
- Ayres' Hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii
- African Hawk Eagle, H. spilogaster
- New Guinea Hawk-eagle, H. weiskei
- Genus Harpagornis (extinct)
- Haast's Eagle, Harpagornis moorei - possibly belongs in either Hieraaetus or Aquila
- Genus Aquila
- Bonelli's Eagle, Aquila fasciata - formerly Hieraaetus fasciatus
- Booted Eagle, A. pennata - formerly Hieraaetus pennatus
- Little Eagle, A. morphnoides
- Golden Eagle, A. chrysaetos
- Eastern Imperial Eagle, A. heliaca
- Rufous-bellied Eagle, A. kienerii
- Spanish Imperial Eagle A. adalberti
- Steppe Eagle, A. nipalensis
- Tawny Eagle, A. rapax
- Greater Spotted Eagle, A. clanga - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus
- Lesser Spotted Eagle, A. pomarina - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus
- Indian Spotted Eagle, A. hastata - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus
- Verreaux's Eagle, A. verreauxii
- Gurney's Eagle, A. gurneyi
- Wahlberg's Eagle, A. wahlbergi
- Wedge-tailed Eagle, A. audax
- Genus Ictinaetus
- Black Eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis
- Genus Haliaeetus
- White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
- Bald Eagle, H. leucocephalus
- Steller's Sea-eagle, H. pelagicus
- African Fish-eagle, H. vocifer
- White-bellied Sea-eagle, H. leucogaster
- Sanford's Fish-eagle, H. sanfordi
- Madagascar Fish-eagle, H. vociferoides
- Pallas' Sea-eagle, H. leucoryphus
- Genus Ichthyophaga
- Lesser Fish-eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis
- Grey-headed Fish-eagle, I. ichthyaetus
- Genus Geranoaetus
- Subfamily Circaetinae: snake-eagles
- Genus Terathopius
- Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
- Genus Circaetus
- Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus
- Black-chested Snake-eagle, C. pectoralis
- Brown Snake-eagle, C. cinereus
- Fasciated Snake-eagle, C. fasciolatus
- Banded Snake-eagle, C. cinerascens
- Genus Spilornis
- Crested Serpent-eagle, Spilornis cheela
- South Nicobar Serpent-eagle, Spilornis klossi, formerly S. minimus
- Mountain Serpent-eagle,S. kinabaluensis
- Sulawesi Serpent-eagle, S. rufipectus
- Philippine Serpent-eagle, S. holospilus
- Andaman Serpent-eagle, S. elgini
- Genus Eutriorchis
- Madagascar Serpent-eagle, Eutriorchis astur
- Genus Terathopius
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org
![African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer[2])](images/birds/birdsofprey/AfricanSeaEagle3.jpg)
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