Eastern Imperial Eagle - BirdForum Opus

Adult
Photo © by Jugal Tiwari
Kutch, Gujarat, India, February, 2007

Aquila heliaca

Identification

Juvenile
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Nazafgarh Wetland and Marshes, Delhi-Haryana Border, India, January-2019

72–84 cm (28¼-33 in)

• Dark brown
• White scapular
• Gold-cream nape
• Tail has grey base

Juvenile

• Brown becoming buff
• Dark flight feathers

Distribution

Eastern Europe to Central Asia, and Africa.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Habitat

Mainly open lowland areas with scattered trees or adjacent to patches of woodland, sometimes marshes.

Behaviour

Photo © by tombac
Petchaburi, Thailand, January 2010

Breeding

They nest in trees; the nest is formed from branches, grass and feathers. The clutch consists of 2-3 eggs which is incubated for 45 days.

Diet

Their diet consists of susliks, hamsters, squirrels, rodents, foxes and birds.

Gallery

Click images to see larger version

• 

  Immature: under-wing
  © by Alok Tewari
  Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, February-2018

• 

  Immature : upper-wing
  Photo © by Alok Tewari
  Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, February-2018

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

1. Wikipedia
2. BirdLife International

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Eastern Imperial Eagle. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 21 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eastern_Imperial_Eagle

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