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Difference between revisions of "Steppe Eagle" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Steppe_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|2nd Calendar Year<br />Photo by {{user|Sumit|Sumit}}<br />[[Himalayas]], [[India]], 2003]]
 
;[[:Category:Aquila|Aquila]] nipalensis
 
;[[:Category:Aquila|Aquila]] nipalensis
[[Image:Steppe_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Sumit]]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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72–81 cm (28-32 in)<br />
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*Brown upperparts
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*Pale throat
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*Blackish flight feathers and tail, .<br />
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Gape line goes back behind the mid of the eye, often to the rear edge but not always.
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====Similar species====
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In Europe look at [[Greater Spotted Eagle]] and [[Lesser Spotted Eagle]]; in Africa also [[Tawny Eagle]] and [[Wahlberg's Eagle]]
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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[[Image:4578IMG 9871.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Probably second year bird<br />Photo by {{user|rony_roshtov|rony_roshtov}}<br />Eylat, [[Israel]], April 2006]]
 
[[Eurasia]], [[India]] and [[Africa]].  
 
[[Eurasia]], [[India]] and [[Africa]].  
  
Breeds from the northern slopes of the Caucasus to the north of the Caspian Sea in southern [[Russia]] and [[Kazakstan]] and east into Central Asia as far as north-west [[China]] and Tibet. Probably now extinct in the [[Ukraine]] and a former breeder in [[Moldova]], [[Romania]] and [[Turkey]]. Further south breeds in [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Burma]].
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Breeds from the northern slopes of the Caucasus to the north of the Caspian Sea in southern [[Russia]] and [[Kazakhstan]] and east into Central Asia as far as north-west [[China]] and Tibet. Probably now extinct in the [[Ukraine]] and a former breeder in [[Moldova]], [[Romania]] and [[Turkey]]. Further south breeds in [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Burma]].
  
 
In the northern winter found mainly in Eastern and Southern [[Africa]], small numbers in [[Iraq]] and [[Israel]], occasionally [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]]. On passage occurs in [[Turkey]] and the [[Middle East]], Sinai and [[Egypt]] but generally rather scarce. Eastern birds winter south to [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and southern [[China]].  
 
In the northern winter found mainly in Eastern and Southern [[Africa]], small numbers in [[Iraq]] and [[Israel]], occasionally [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]]. On passage occurs in [[Turkey]] and the [[Middle East]], Sinai and [[Egypt]] but generally rather scarce. Eastern birds winter south to [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and southern [[China]].  
  
Annual or almost so in [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]], vagrants also recorded west to the [[Netherlands]] and [[France]], various [[Europe]]an countries and south to [[Sardinia]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Chad]].  
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Annual or almost so in [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]], vagrants also recorded west to the [[Netherlands]] and [[France]], various [[Europe]]an countries and south to [[Sardinia]], [[Tunisia]] and [[Chad]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Subspecies:  Three races are recognised: ''orientalis'' from Eastern Europe to Central Asia, ''nipalensis'' in east-central Asia and ''vindhiana'' in Pakistan, India and Burma.
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Considered conspecific with [[Tawny Eagle]] ''Aquila rapax'' by some authors. The subspecies ''vindhiana'' of the latter is sometimes included in this species.
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====Subspecies====
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There are 2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:   
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*''A. n. orientalis'':
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:*Central [[Eurasia]]; winters to [[Middle East]], [[Arabia]] and southern [[Africa]]
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*''A. n. nipalensis'':
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:*Altai Mountains to [[Tibet]] and Manchuria; winters [[India]] to south-eastern [[China]]
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Lowland steppe, semi-desert and foothills
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[[Image:Steppe_eagle_by_Daniele_Occhiato.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Daniele_Occhiato|Daniele Occhiato}}<br />Raysut, Dhofar, [[Oman]], October 2007]]
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Lowland steppe, semi-desert and foothills. Occurs up to 2300 m.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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====Diet====
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The diet consists mostly of carrion, but will kill rodents, small mammals and birds. Subspecies ''orientalis'' specialises in hunting suslick (ground squirrels). They will also snatch food from other raptors.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#Sinclair et al. 2002. Birds of Southern Africa. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-09682-1
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#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)
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#AvianWeb
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Steppe+Eagle}}
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{{GSearch|Aquila_nipalens}}
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=881&Bird_Image_ID=1250&Bird_Family_ID=96 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
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<br />
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Aquila]] [[Category:Incomplete]]
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{{Video|Steppe_Eagle}}
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Aquila]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 18:50, 17 June 2015

2nd Calendar Year
Photo by Sumit
Himalayas, India, 2003
Aquila nipalensis

Identification

72–81 cm (28-32 in)

  • Brown upperparts
  • Pale throat
  • Blackish flight feathers and tail, .

Gape line goes back behind the mid of the eye, often to the rear edge but not always.

Similar species

In Europe look at Greater Spotted Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle; in Africa also Tawny Eagle and Wahlberg's Eagle

Distribution

Probably second year bird
Photo by rony_roshtov
Eylat, Israel, April 2006

Eurasia, India and Africa.

Breeds from the northern slopes of the Caucasus to the north of the Caspian Sea in southern Russia and Kazakhstan and east into Central Asia as far as north-west China and Tibet. Probably now extinct in the Ukraine and a former breeder in Moldova, Romania and Turkey. Further south breeds in Pakistan, India and Burma.

In the northern winter found mainly in Eastern and Southern Africa, small numbers in Iraq and Israel, occasionally Greece and Turkey. On passage occurs in Turkey and the Middle East, Sinai and Egypt but generally rather scarce. Eastern birds winter south to Pakistan, India and southern China.

Annual or almost so in Sweden and Finland, vagrants also recorded west to the Netherlands and France, various European countries and south to Sardinia, Tunisia and Chad.

Taxonomy

Considered conspecific with Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax by some authors. The subspecies vindhiana of the latter is sometimes included in this species.

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies[1]:

  • A. n. orientalis:
  • A. n. nipalensis:
  • Altai Mountains to Tibet and Manchuria; winters India to south-eastern China

Habitat

Photo by Daniele Occhiato
Raysut, Dhofar, Oman, October 2007

Lowland steppe, semi-desert and foothills. Occurs up to 2300 m.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet consists mostly of carrion, but will kill rodents, small mammals and birds. Subspecies orientalis specialises in hunting suslick (ground squirrels). They will also snatch food from other raptors.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Sinclair et al. 2002. Birds of Southern Africa. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-09682-1
  3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)
  4. AvianWeb

Recommended Citation

External Links


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