Eagle family. Eagle (Aquila): species, photos, reproduction, voice, interesting facts

In this article, we'll talk about the birds that inspired in their battles the legionnaires of the Roman Empire, the nomads of Asia, the Aztecs of North America and the kings of Europe, about the birds that are present on many coats of arms of various states around the world - about the eagle family.

General description of the family

In reality, we are talking about the hawk family, and eagles are only its subfamily, but in order not to confuse readers in biological terminology, we will talk about the family.

So, the eagle family is represented by more than 70 species, most of which live on two continents: Eurasia and Africa. Only 2 species live in wildlife North America, 9 species in South and Central America and 3 species in Australia.

All species are large birds of prey. So, the smallest of them, the eagle Spilornis klossi, is 40 cm long and weighs 450 grams. Adults are the most large species(bald eagle, golden eagle) reach 7 kg and have a length from beak to tail over 1 meter.

Birds have excellent binocular vision, the acuity of which is 3.6 times that of humans. In addition, they are armed with sharp developed claws, powerful paws and are capable of speeds up to 250 km / h during flight.

All bird species are monogamous, that is, they form one pair for life. In nature, individuals of some species can live up to 25 years. Birds reach sexual maturity by 4-7 years. They build their nests, as a rule, high above the surface of the earth (in rocky terrain, on thick branches of trees). Female birds are approximately 1.5 times larger than males. The female lays most often 2 eggs, of which only one chick survives. The mating season for different species begins in January and lasts until March. The female sits on eggs for about 45 days, but the male can help her in this. Parents feed their chick for up to 3 months, after which it leaves the nest.

A feature of eagles is that almost all of their species are sedentary, and migrate only if their food supply is greatly reduced in winter. Each pair of eagles controls an area of ​​hundreds of square kilometers, in which they have several nests, which they use in turn. It is curious that one nest serves birds for several years. They add new twigs to it, so the nest can be up to 1.5 meters in height.

Royal eagle, or golden eagle

It is not for nothing that this bird of the eagle family is mentioned first, because it is known all over the world (in Eurasia, North America and Africa). The bird has a dark brown plumage, the neck and tip of the tail are golden-white. Females of this species weigh up to 6.8 kg (usually about 5 kg) and have a wingspan of up to 2.34 cm. The weight of males does not exceed 4 kg.

The golden eagle is a born hunter, he does not disdain both small rodents and large game, for example, foxes or goats. Moreover, in winter, these birds can feed on carrion and are often seen in landfills.

It is the golden eagle that is worshiped by many peoples of Asia. The fact is that for several centuries it has been used by the inhabitants of this part of the world to hunt birds and animals (including wolves).

Birds of prey, eagles of this species, prefer to live and nest in mountainous areas (on the territory of Russia, these are the Caucasus, Altai, Kamchatka). The golden eagle needs space for its hunt.

Currently, there are about 170,000 specimens of this species around the world. There are a number of laws that prohibit hunting this bird. Some countries are experimenting with breeding the golden eagle in the wild, such as Ireland.

This is another famous species of birds of the eagle family. It lives in North America and is a symbol of US freedom.

As the name of the species suggests, it has white plumage on its head, while the rest of its body and wings are dark or light brown, and the tail is long and wedge-shaped.

The bald eagle preys on snakes, small rodents and lizards. It is not as fast as a golden eagle, but in an emergency it can reach speeds of up to 150 km / h (a golden eagle is up to 250 km / h). The dimensions of this eagle are approximately the same as for the golden eagle.

An interesting feature is the size of this bird's nests. The nest can reach up to 8 meters in diameter, several meters in height and weigh up to 1 ton.

In the wild, these representatives of the eagle family (see photo in the review) can live up to 20 years, while in captivity their life expectancy doubles.

During the past centuries, this species of bird of prey was actively exterminated by people so that by the 20th century it was threatened with extinction. As a result of the measures taken to protect the bird, its population began to grow since 2005.

This name of the eagle family suggests that this species is distributed exclusively in South America, as well as in Central America and Mexico. Harpy is one of the largest species of eagles: females reach a mass of up to 9 kg, while the weight of males does not exceed 5 kg. The plumage of birds is two-colored: from above it is covered with dark feathers, from below - white. The head is gray, the beak is black. Characteristic feature the harpy is a double hood surrounding its head.

The harpy lives in the thicket of the jungle. The main diet of her diet is made up of monkeys and sloths. Nests in tall trees. Its nest is relatively small in comparison with that of the bald eagle. Usually its width does not exceed 1.5 meters.

The female harpy lays 2 eggs, of which only one chick survives. Both parents feed chicks up to 10 months. On average, one pair produces only one chick in 3-4 years. Sexual maturity in birds occurs only by the fourth or sixth year of life.

Due to the active deforestation, this species of the eagle family has been displaced from its usual habitats, therefore, the governments of South American countries are currently taking a number of measures aimed at its conservation.

This formidable bird of the eagle family lives in Africa (in its northern and southern parts). In comparison with its congeners, it has a small size (up to 6 kg). Her habitat is shroud. It feeds mainly on birds (ducks, geese), as well as snakes and lizards.

The fighting eagle in the wild has no enemies, however, in recent decades, its numbers have greatly decreased due to extermination by humans. The fact is that people consider it to be the main threat to poultry... Indeed, there are cases of his attack on farmers' chickens, ducks and geese, however, studies have established that the main food for these eagles is still wild birds.

Named so for the beautiful tuft, which gives the bird's head a large look. This eagle lives in the African jungle, therefore, it rarely encounters the hunting grounds of the fighting eagle. Instances of this species are relatively lightweight (about 4.5 kg). Monkeys and other small mammals are the main prey for crowned eagles.

As for its population size, it is in the same situation as for the fighting eagle.

Together with the harpy and the Philippine eagle, it forms the three largest birds of the eagle family. Steller's sea eagle lives in the territory Of the Far East in the coastal areas of Kamchatka, Sakhalin and in Japan. The main diet of his food is fish.

The Steller's sea eagle, like many other eagle species, is endangered (there are about 5,000 individuals).

As its name suggests, it lives in only one place in the world: the islands of the Philippines. This species is considered the largest eagle in length (over 1 meter). Females weigh about 8 kg. Just like the harpy, this eagle lives in the jungle and hunts monkeys.

The situation of the population of the Philippine eagle is considered critical, so the country's authorities introduced a law according to which the killing of a specimen of this eagle is punishable by 12 years in prison and huge fines.

This large bird, easily and freely soaring in the sky, evokes admiration for its inaccessibility, majesty and incredible strength. No wonder in many folk tales she takes the dignified place of the king of all birds.

This article will present the world and Russia, or rather, some of them. These are adorable and graceful giants with an unimaginably huge span of powerful and strong wings.

About eagles

In nature, there is a huge family of eagles, which includes many species of eagles. However, in Russia there are not so many of them: golden eagle monarch, gravedigger, dwarf, hawk, steppe, large and

Each of these species is unique, has certain features in structure, size, habitat and habits. All this and what the largest eagles exist on earth will be discussed in this article.

Golden eagle

Of all known species eagles, golden eagles - one of the most powerful and beautiful. Its powerful wingspan reaches 2 meters. And his tail, which plays the role of a rudder and gives maneuverability and speed, is also rather big. In this regard, the prey marked by the golden eagle has practically no chances of salvation.

The golden eagle's beak is a powerful weapon. In its shape, it is large and curved. With its cutting edges, the golden eagle is able to cut the victim's skin into pieces. And this is not the most important weapon. He also has strong powerful claws, with the help of which he grabs and kills the animal he has caught.

The golden eagle hunts for a variety of animals: rodents (marmots, ground squirrels and hares), and wood grouse), medium-sized ungulates. Even turtles sometimes fall prey to him, although they have a seemingly reliable shell. In the latter case, the cunning of this wise bird plays an important role. She throws the caught turtle from a height, due to which the shell breaks against the stones, and the delicious tender meat becomes the food of the golden eagle.

The nest of this bird is huge, up to 2 meters in diameter and up to one in height. The eagle lays out the interior of its dwelling with wool, scraps of skins, tree branches with leaves, fresh coniferous branches. In nature, you can find nests built by him even at an altitude of about 3000 meters.

Andean condor

It is a larger bird found in the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. The wingspan of a condor is three meters. This giant is known for its collar of white feathers around its neck against the background of beautiful shiny black plumage, as well as a crest on its head.

It feeds mainly on carrion, but it can also hunt medium-sized birds, and also loves to feed on eggs. In total, a condor can eat about 6 kilograms of meat in one sitting.

These giants live quite high in the mountains, and they arrange their nests at almost 5 meters height.

Peregrine falcon

The bird has a name that means "traveling" in Latin, and it deserves it. She travels almost everywhere, visiting northern European countries, Asia, America during flights, and reaches Central Africa.

Of a dark gray shade, the upper part of the bird's body has triangular spots, and the lower, yellowish tone, has dark stripes. The spotted flight feathers are bluish-black in color.

The nesting place of this giant bird is large forests interspersed with rocks. Peregrine Falcon is a bird that nests in the crevices of steep rocks, but more often prefers abandoned habitation of kites and eagles. About 50 years ago, it was even seen on high-rise buildings in European cities.

The main food of peregrine falcons is birds (from larks to geese). No wonder they are also called pigeons. During the hunt for prey, birds develop tremendous speed, and therefore it often happens that the prey, dodging, escapes, and the predator itself crashes against the obstacle.

Great peregrine falcon hunter. However, like other falcons, when chased by other predators, he abandons his caught prey. This is what other cunning birds of prey use. They often lie in wait for the peregrine falcon in order to get easy prey.

The peregrine falcon, like many of the largest eagles, has been used by people as a hunting bird for a long time. It differs from other hunting eagles in a slightly smaller size, a short tail and a strongly bent beak.

This strong predatory is also called the monkey-eater. The Philippine Harpy is one of the rarest large birds in the world. She lives only in the Philippines, in tropical forests. This bird is one of the main national symbols of the country, and it is under state protection. Killing her is punishable by Filipino law with twelve years in prison and a heavy fine.

The dimensions of the Filipino harpy are impressive: the length is from 80 to 100 cm, the wingspan is about 220 cm. The long tail and relatively short wings allow this bird to maneuver quite easily in flight in dense forests.

The bird's head is whitish-buffy with a tuft of narrow and long feathers, which have a brown color on the side of the back and on the wings, and on the tail - with darker transverse stripes. The belly is painted in an ocher-whitish color.

The bird has a high and very large beak.

In conclusion, some interesting facts

The largest eagles on earth today, it turns out, are not so gigantic. In 2000 by the magazine The Times a sensational report was published that archaeologists in New Zealand had found the skeletons of giant eagles. Scientists with the help of various studies have established that the weight of the birds found could reach 20 kg, which most likely did not allow them to rise to great heights. Another curious fact is that ancient tools made from the bones of large birds were also discovered.

Sensational results were also obtained when comparing DNA. It turned out that the remains belong to the huge eagles that once inhabited New Zealand.

Moreover, the DNA of this ancient species did not coincide with any of the modern species... Only the dwarf eagle resembles these birds in DNA. Giant eagles fed on smaller birds (similar to geese), which were available to humans. In this regard, their population has rapidly declined, and over time they completely died out. And after them, the giant eagles were doomed, having lost their main source of food.

Eagles are a genus of large birds of prey from the hawk family. Various types of eagles are found in Africa, Eurasia and North America. They can be found in the vastness of different climatic zones: from forest tundra to deserts.

The wingspan of the largest members of the genus can reach two and a half meters, and the body length is up to 90 centimeters.

Eagle in flight.

Eagles can nest high in the mountains, in the treetops, or simply on the ground, as the steppe eagle does. They hunt small vertebrates, which are looked out for, soaring in the sky or sitting on a high place. Some types of eagles also feed on carrion.

The number of eagles is declining due to the increase in the number of people. People destroy nature by developing agricultural activities. This leads to a reduction in the food supply of eagles and other problems. Some species of eagles simply prefer to nest far from people, and there are fewer and fewer such places.

Types of eagles

As with many other animals, there are several classifications of eagles. Genetic studies are being carried out to refine the classification, so that over time, the genus of eagles can be divided into two or more genera.

Now it is customary to distinguish 17 species of eagles, of which one is extinct.

A species of eagles weighing up to 2.5 kg and 65-75 cm long, with a wing length of up to 55 cm.

Apparently, earlier this eagle lived throughout the tropical and subtropical zone of the eastern hemisphere, but now there are isolated areas along the equator. The hawk eagle can be found in southern Europe, northern Africa, sometimes found in areas from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan, occupies vast areas in India, and is also often found in southern China. For nesting, hawk eagles choose an area overgrown with xerophytic (drought-resistant) shrubs.

The prey of the hawk eagle does not exceed the size of a hare. It can be both mammals and birds. For example, partridges or wild pigeons are present in the diet of the hawk eagle. Usually, a hawk eagle attacks prey on the ground, but it can catch a victim in flight, like a falcon.

The hawk eagle has caught a pigeon.
A pair of hawk eagles.

The pairs of hawk eagles are very durable. A couple can live together their entire life. The eggs hatch from January to April. In most cases, the female lays two eggs, one or three eggs in the nest - this is very rare. The eggs are incubated by the female. By the age of 10 weeks, the eagles become independent.

In Europe, the hawk eagle is under the threat of extinction, since the rapid development of lands by humans for their needs and the destruction of nature leads to the destruction of the food base.

A small species of eagles, more comparable in size to buzzards. A migratory bird, the nesting area of ​​the Booted Eagle is a zone of warm temperate climate in Eurasia. For the winter, dwarf eagles fly to Africa. In southern Africa, there is a population of dwarf eagles that live there year-round.

The wingspan of eagles of this species is a maximum of 130 centimeters. Females and males are colored the same, although the females are larger.

Pairs of this species winter separately, but for reproduction they reunite and build a nest in the same place. At this time, males behave demonstratively, arranging an unusual show in the sky, performing various aerobatics.

The nest is built by a male and a female, it turns out to be wide, about a meter in diameter. Usually it is set up on a massive tree at a height of at least five meters from the ground, usually higher.

The female lays one or two eggs in late spring. The incubation of eggs lasts a month, all this time the male feeds the female. After the eagles are born, the female heats them up for several more days until they get used to the new conditions. The male continues to take care of her, feeding her. After two months, the chicks will fledge and leave the nest.

Two young dwarf eagles in the nest.

Despite their small size, dwarf eagles have very strong legs, which allows them to hunt relatively large game, for example, rabbits. It can catch small birds on the fly such as blackbirds, starlings, sparrows, larks and others. If the climate is arid, then the dwarf eagle hunts reptiles, then snakes and lizards form the basis of the diet. It tries to kill poisonous snakes with a blow to the head with its beak, however, there are cases when poisonous snakes successfully defended themselves and dwarf eagles died from bites. During wintering, these eagles happily feed on termites.

Australian dwarf eagle

A small species of eagles that lives almost throughout Australia. Not migratory.

The Indian hawk eagle is a small type of eagle, with a wingspan of up to 140 centimeters.

The Indian hawk eagle is found in the tropics of the Indomalayan zone. The species inhabits evergreen, humid forests. There are several populations of the Indian Hawk Eagle that are isolated from each other.

He hunts for small birds and average size, there are also known cases of successful squirrel hunting of this eagle.

Nests are built at a height of at least 25 meters. Lays only one egg. There are no other data on the reproduction of this species, since it is little studied.

Golden eagle

The golden eagle is the largest representative of the entire hawk family. The golden eagle is a strong and large eagle. The wingspan can reach 240 centimeters, weight - 6.7 kilograms. At the same time, males are much smaller than females, the maximum weight of a male can be 4.6 kilograms.

Distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Most often it lives in the mountains, on the plains it can be found very rarely. Avoids places inhabited by people and does the right thing.

It hunts hares, rodents and various birds. But the size allows encroaching on cubs of deer, sheep and other large animals.

Extremely sharp eyesight allows the golden eagle to spot the hare at a distance of two kilometers. But golden eagles see well only during daylight hours. Having noticed prey, the eagle dives towards it, while the speed of the golden eagle can reach 320 km / h.

Hares, marmots, ferrets, ground squirrels, skunks and even turtles can become the prey of the golden eagle. In Bulgaria, turtles make up one fifth of the diet of golden eagles. In the southern parts of the range, golden eagles can hunt snakes. It can also attack hawks, which is offensive. Golden eagle does not disdain carrion, especially in winter.

The eagle looks out for prey, soaring in the sky. If it is cloudy or rainy, the golden eagle looks out for prey sitting on a hill (tree or hill).

Eagle golden eagle in flight.

The golden eagle grabs small prey with one paw by the neck, the other by the back and breaks its spine. If necessary, a strong blow of a powerful beak tears the cervical arteries. If the golden eagle tries to kill large prey, then it inflicts several such blows, while balancing, grasping the victim's back tightly.

They begin to reproduce at the age of five. Forming pairs, golden eagles remain faithful throughout their lives, while the other half of the pair is alive. Golden eagles arrange their nests in hard-to-reach places in the mountains, less often in trees. They always nest far from people.

The female golden eagle usually lays two eggs at intervals of 3-4 days. Chicks are born with the same interval. The older chick is aggressive towards the younger ones, taking food from them. Parents do not pay any attention to this behavior. As a result, more than half of the youngest chicks die before they even live two weeks. Golden eagle chicks rise on the wing by the 80th day, but for a long time they do not fly away from the nesting site.

Eagle golden eagle in flight.

Golden eagles are sedentary and do not fly away for the winter. They protect their site from other birds of prey.

Nowadays, the population of the golden eagle is rapidly declining, the golden eagle has become a very rare bird. A huge blow to the population of golden eagles, like other predators, was inflicted by farmers in Europe and North America. They shot them uncontrollably as they attacked pets.

The burial eagle is a large species of eagles, the wingspan can reach 215 centimeters.

Is an migratory species, nests in the steppe and forest-steppe zone of Eurasia to the east to Lake Baikal, and flies to different southern regions for wintering (south of China, India, Saudi Arabia, etc.).

Outwardly, the burial eagle is similar to the golden eagle, but somewhat smaller.

Although initially the burial eagle lived on the plains, due to the activities of people it was driven into the mountains. Prefers steppes, forest-steppe or semi-desert, always with islets of forest.

It begins to reproduce in the fifth or sixth year of life. By this time, the color of the eagle becomes adult. The created pairs are preserved for the whole life, even during the wintering period the pairs are not separated.

The nesting site has been used by the couple for many years.

The female usually lays 2 eggs at intervals of several days. As a result, the older chick suppresses the younger, and this can lead to the death of the latter. But this does not happen as often as among golden eagles.

The burial eagle is a predator and scavenger. Carrion makes up an essential part of his diet. The carcass of a downed dog can provide food for a burial eagle for several days.

To search for prey, like all eagles, it hovers in the sky or watches over it in a high place. There is enough prey on the ground, the bird can catch on takeoff.

This type of eagle has a vulnerable status. The main reason for the decline in the number of Imperial Eagles is the increase in the number of humans.

Spanish burial ground

The Spanish burial ground is an eagle that lives only on the Iberian Peninsula. More recently, this species of eagles was considered a subspecies of the Imperial Eagle, but significant genetic differences were found and now the subspecies has been singled out as a separate species.

The body length of the Spanish burial ground is 80 centimeters, and the wingspan can reach 2.2 meters. The main prey is rabbits, it also catches rodents and birds. Can attack a hare or even a fox.

Spanish burial grounds are not migratory birds. They keep their hunting grounds and guard them from rivals.

Spanish burial grounds are monogamous birds. Nesting begins in March. The female can lay up to 4 eggs, but as a rule no more than 2 chicks survive in the brood. Reaching the age of three months, the chicks leave the nest.

This species of eagle is endangered, with no more than 650 individuals remaining in the wild.

The stone eagle is a large species, body length: 62-72 cm. The wingspan of the stone eagle is 160-183 cm. Males are somewhat smaller than females, males weigh up to 2.0 kg, females up to 2.5 kg. Very similar to the steppe eagle.

Stone eagles do not inhabit forests or deserts, preferring savannahs and steppes. Populations isolated from each other live in India and neighboring countries, and also in Africa.

A stone eagle and a black-and-back jackal shot down on the road.

The diet is very diverse: mammals and reptiles, birds and large insects, hunt fish while partially submerging the body in water. Maximum weight production does not exceed 2 kg. Can attack flamingos in flight. The stone eagle does not disdain carrion, steals prey from competitors.

The stone eagle is a monogamous bird, like many eagles. Only one chick survives in a brood. The male helps the female to feed the baby. Chicks take wing in the third month of life. Stone eagles reach sexual maturity in the fourth year of life.

The steppe eagle is a large species of eagles. Females are larger than males, the weight of a female can reach 4.8 kg, and a wingspan of 230 cm.

Steppe eagle - migrant... The nests are in the steppes from the Stavropol Territory of the Russian Federation to the southern part of China. For wintering, steppe eagles fly to Africa and India.

Steppe eagle in flight.

The main prey of the steppe eagle is ground squirrels and other large rodents; they can attack hares and chicks of other bird species. Carrion willingly eats.

Great Spotted Eagle

The Greater Spotted Eagle is a species of migratory eagle that breeds from Finland to China. The great spotted eagle hibernates in India, Iran and Indochina.

The largest Greater Spotted Eagle weighs 3.2 kg. They often settle near water bodies. It hunts for small rodents. The main prey is water voles and other rodents; it can catch reptiles and small birds.

Nests in trees, often uses one nest for several years in a row. Like most eagles, the female lays two eggs several days apart. The younger chick is suppressed by the older one and dies, often not having lived even ten days.

The Greater Spotted Eagle reproduces well in captivity, which is why it is often found in zoos.

The Lesser Spotted Eagle is a species of small eagle. The weight of the lesser spotted eagle does not exceed 1.8 kg.

Breeds in Eastern Europe and winters in Africa. India has an isolated non-migratory population.

The Indian Spotted Eagle is a medium-sized eagle, body length up to 65cm. Lives in India and neighboring countries: Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal.

It is not small mammals that hunt, capturing prey from the ground. It can also hunt birds and frogs.

The Kaffir eagle lives in Africa. A large species with a wingspan of up to two meters and weighing up to four and a half kilograms.

Kaffir eagle with prey.

The main prey is rodents.

Moluccan eagle

The Moluccan eagle lives in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea. The population is rapidly declining due to the growth of the human population in these countries and the destruction of the natural biosystems of the region by humans.

The wingspan is up to 190 centimeters, the weight of females is up to 3 kg.

The silver eagle is another representative of the African fauna. The silver eagle is up to 60 cm long and has a wingspan of 140-160 cm.

Like other eagle species, the silver eagle preys on small animals (mammals, reptiles and birds). Nests are built in trees; females lay one or two eggs.

Wedge-tailed eagle is a large species with a wingspan of up to 2.3 meters and weighing up to 5 kg, while females are larger than males.

The Wedge-Tailed Eagle lives in Australia, Tasmania and southern New Guinea. The wedge-tailed eagle settles both in the plains and in the mountains.

The main prey of wedge-tailed eagles is rabbits. They can also attack large birds and lizards. Cases of attacks on lambs have been recorded, but this is very rare. This species also feeds on carrion.

Wedge-tailed eagle in flight.

Nests are built high in the trees, a place is chosen from which the surroundings can be clearly seen. There are no more than three eggs in a clutch. Cubs are born after about 45 days. The nestlings of the wedge-tailed eagle depend on their parents for six months, then I leave the nest and begin to lead an independent life.

Aquila kurochkini

Aquila kurochkini (Latin) is a fossil eagle similar in size and structure to the living hawk eagle. This species was described in 2013 by the Bulgarian paleontologist Z.N. Combat.

The species epithet (kurochkini) is given in honor of the authoritative Russian paleontologist Professor E.N. Kurochkin (1940–2011), who made a huge contribution to the study of early evolution and phylogeny of birds, studying the paleoornithofauna of the entire Eurasian continent.

Eagles in the broadest sense of the word is a name applied to representatives of the subfamily of eagles (Latin Aquilinae) of the family of hawks (Accipitridae). In addition, this is the name of large birds of prey that resemble the representatives of the above group of birds, i.e., having an eagle's appearance.

Characteristic features of eagles are massive build, long and relatively wide wings with fingerlike flight feathers, massive beak and strong legs with large curved claws and elongated feathers on the outer side of the thigh and lower leg ("pants"). When hunting, as a rule, they hover high above the surface of the earth, relying on sight to find prey. The composition of food depends on the species and habitat of birds, but in all cases, eagles are on the highest steps of the trophic pyramids.

The word "Eagle" is present in the species names of birds of prey belonging to other subfamilies. For example, buffoon eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus), Madagascar snake-eagle eagle (Eutriorchis astur), which indicates their external resemblance to eagles. V English language the word Eagle denotes an even larger number of species, including eagles (Haliaeetus) - Fish-eagles and snake-eagles (Circaetus) - Snake-eagles, which are very distantly related to eagles.

Steppe eagle. Less golden eagle, approximately from the burial ground. Below, the body and wing coverts are uniformly dark brown, the flight feathers and tail feathers are dark brown, but at the base they are often lighter, with gray transverse stripes and with a dark apical stripe. Above, they are also very dark, often with lightening at the bases of primary flight feathers; many birds have light (not white) spots on their backs.

There is a reddish spot on the back of the head, but the head as a whole most often looks dark, in contrast to the golden eagle and the burial ground. The yellow line around the edges of the mouth stands out brightly. When soaring, it keeps the wings in one plane, not raised, and the carpal parts of the wings may even be slightly lowered. Quite narrow-winged, narrowing at the level of the carpal fold is especially noticeable. Often keeps the wings slightly bent in the wrist in flight. The tail is relatively long and more rounded than that of other eagles, sometimes even slightly wedge-shaped.

The easiest way to confuse the steppe eagle with the same dark, but wider-winged and short-tailed Great Spotted Eagle. In juveniles, on the wing above, there are longitudinal whitish stripes formed by the light tops of the flight feathers and coverts, the light bases of the primary flight feathers form pale spots, on the lower surface of the wing there is a characteristic longitudinal white stripe, partially preserved for two years. The upper body and wing coverts are grayish or reddish-brown, lighter than the plumage of the bottom, on the loin there is a white transverse stripe, which persists even in semi-mature birds. Gradually, by the age of 4-5 years, they acquire an adult outfit. Weight 2.3-4.9 kg, length 65-86, male wing 51.9-56.8, females 53.6-60.5, span 175-260 cm.

Spreading

Steppes and semi-deserts from the Black Sea to Transbaikalia. In Kazakhstan, throughout the territory, with the exception of the southwestern part of the country.

Behavior

Inhabitants of open dry unplowed steppes, less often settle on cultivated lands. Arrives in the second half of March - April. In places with a high number of ground squirrels, they can be quite common, so that the nests are located 0.5-1 km from one another.

Nests are located mostly on the southern slopes and tops of steppe ridges, on heaps of straw, on stand-alone trees, power transmission towers, geodetic towers, on ruins, less often on a completely flat steppe. Usually, a nest built on the ground is located among bushes and grass, so it does not stand out on the ground. Most often, old nests are occupied, only slightly renovating them. The main food items are gophers. The steppe eagle hunts for them mainly by looking out from the air, in soaring.

Often it watches, sitting, or even lying at the burrow and waiting for the gopher to come out. After that, he jumps up and catches up with him at a run. Steppe eagles are tall on their feet and run better than other eagles. They like to wait for the victim, sitting on a pole. They also hunt other small animals, birds, and willingly eat carrion (saigas, livestock, etc.). It is listed in the Red Data Books of Russia and Kazakhstan. Factors of population decline - plowing of virgin lands and a decrease in the number of gophers, death of eagles from the current on the poles of high-voltage lines, direct extermination, ruining nests, anxiety.

Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos- lives in inaccessible forests in the vast territory of the forest zone of Russia (without the Amur region) and forest-tundra, on the northern slopes of the Caucasus and the extreme south of Primorye. Prefers forest "islands" among swamps, and can also be found in the mountains.

Although the golden eagle has a dark brown background, lighter golden feathers are always present on its head and neck. Its wingspan reaches 1.9-2.2 meters. A characteristic feature of this type are the feathered metatarsus. The bird's eyes are dark brown to match the plumage, while the beak and legs are bright yellow.

Australian wedge-tailed eagle length: 81-100 cm, weight: 2 - 5.5 kg., color: males and females do not differ. Migration: sedentary. Habitat: Southern New Guinea, Australia (including Tasmania)
It is the largest bird of prey in Australia. The main color is brown. The long, stepped tail makes its silhouette far distinguishable in flight. The Australian wedge-tailed eagle hunts other birds, rabbits, and eats carrion, performing the functions of a natural orderly on a continent where there are no scavengers like vultures or vultures at all. this eagle nests in the crowns of trees and lines its nest with leaves.

Burial eagle (lat.Aquila heliaca)- a species of birds of the genus eagles (Aquila) from the family of hawks (Accipitridae).

A large bird of prey living in mixed and deciduous forests and hunting in open spaces. In the north it is a migratory bird, in the south it is a sedentary and nomadic.

The body color is dark brown, the top of the head and neck is yellowish, there are large white spots on the shoulders, the tail is brown, monochromatic. Juveniles are brown on top, reddish-brown below with longitudinal dark streaks. In flight, the feathers at the ends of the wings are arranged finger-like, the flight of the bird is soaring, slow.
Kept in pairs or alone.

Habitat A rare, poorly studied species, the number of which is declining. Wing length 540-600 mm. Forest-steppe and steppe zones.

Spreading. Inhabits the southern outskirts of forests, forest-steppe, steppe and semi-desert regions of Russia. In the east, the area is focal. Here the burial eagle nests in Tuva, in the southern Cisbaikalia, in the regions adjacent to Baikal from the south and east.

The species is also found in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Central Asia. Outside the former USSR, it lives in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Spain, the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, China, Mongolia.
A reduction in the area is observed from the northwest.

It nests in thin forests at the edges and in separate groups of trees, and in open landscapes - on large bushes and very rarely on the ground. V Lately burial nests are sometimes found on power line masts. Commits seasonal migrations and migrations.

The number. In the European part of Russia, the number of burial grounds is decreasing, and in the Asian part it is relatively stable: for example, for almost 30 years in Altai, the number of nesting burial grounds has not decreased.

In the floodplain of the river. Ilek near the border of the Orenburg region. in the early 60s. 1 pair of burial eagles accounted for 40 square kilometers. A similar number in the 70s. established in the south of the Minusinsk Basin: in some areas, the nesting density averaged 2.5 pairs per 100 km2. A large nesting group of burial grounds (at least 30 pairs) has been preserved for a long time in Cisbaikalia - in the valley of the left tributary of the Angara River. Ungi nests were sometimes located 1–1.5 km apart.

A high concentration of the burial ground is maintained in some regions of Kazakhstan. In foreign Europe, about 200 - 250 pairs of burial grounds have survived (8), mainly in Romania - 100 - 120 bunks and in Spain - about 60 pairs. Throughout Europe, the number of burial grounds decreases only in Eastern Slovakia in the early 70s. it has increased slightly.

Limiting factors

The distribution and number of burial eagle is strictly limited by the combination of woody vegetation with an abundance of available prey (ground squirrels, marmots, hares, gerbils, etc.) in open spaces convenient for hunting. This circumstance determines the "lace" nature of its range, within which there are both places with a high concentration of burial grounds and vast areas where the species is completely absent. prey can force burial grounds to leave nesting territories.

The development of the original habitats, the shooting of eagles and the destruction of their nests, the death of power lines on the supports, the growth of anxiety and other anthropogenic factors affect the decline in the number of the burial ground.

Great Spotted Eagle - Aquila clanga Pallas. Almost always of a very dark uniform color, sometimes with a whitish spot on the upper tail. In juveniles, the top is with light drop-shaped specks. In a flying bird, the tail seems to be short. The Greater Spotted Eagle has a body length of 65-73 cm and a body weight of 1.6 - 3.2 kg. Sexual dimorphism is not pronounced.

Spreading

Breeds in Europe from Finland, Poland, Hungary and Romania to Mongolia, China and Pakistan. In Russia, it is found from Kaliningrad to Primorye. Winters in India, Iran and Indochina.

Lifestyle

The Greater Spotted Eagle lives in mixed forests, as well as near floodplain meadows, marshes, rivers and lakes. These are the places that are great for him. hunting grounds... This eagle often inhabits the plains, but occasionally occurs at an altitude of up to 1000 m. When hunting, the spotted eagle soars at a high altitude or looks for prey on the ground.

Lesser Spotted Eagle... The smallest representative of the genus Aquila (body length 62-68 cm, wingspan 145-165 cm, weight up to 1.8 kg). It hardly differs from the great spotted eagle (with which it often forms hybrids), and some age forms of the steppe eagle. A large bird with proportionally long and wide wings, the ends of which often hang down slightly while soaring.

The wing-tip is generally more rounded than that of the great spotted eagle, due to the shorter primary flight feathers. The coloration is dark brown with a lighter head, the upper and lower wing coverts, which have a distinct yellowish or reddish tint and contrast with the black flight feathers. On the wings from above, rounded light spots are clearly visible at the base of the primary flight feathers, on the upper tail there is also a light spot.

The eyes are amber yellow, which is never the case with the great spotted eagle. In young birds, the general tone of plumage is slightly darker and against its background all light spots stand out brighter than in adults. On the back of the head they have a species-specific bright red spot, and at the ends of wing coverts one or two rows of small light teardrop-shaped spots. Often there are probably hybrid individuals combining the features of the Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagles.

Distribution:

Currently, this subspecies is found from the eastern regions of Germany in the west to the Ivanovo region. Russia in the east, and from Greece in the south to the Leningrad region. Russia in the north. In Belarus, the lesser spotted eagle is distributed throughout the territory, with the exception of treeless and most economically developed areas. The main wintering grounds are in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa.

Habitat:

It prefers places where reclaimed farmland is surrounded by old deciduous or mixed forest. The Lesser Spotted Eagle is generally less whimsical to habitats than the Greater Spotted Eagle, occurring both in very swampy and dry areas. For him, the size of open land is also not very important. Hunting birds were observed both in vast open areas and in small glades and marshes among the forest and along narrow swampy floodplains of forest rivers, unsuitable for hunting the Greater Spotted Eagle.

The number and tendency of its change:

In the past and at the present time, it is listed in Russian literature as a common nesting species. In the 1970s, when the mass shooting of birds of prey was practiced, its number may have slightly decreased, but reliable data are lacking. Based on the results of the 1999-2002 counts. the lesser spotted eagle is now the most common of the rare species of birds of prey in Belarus and its population is in a stable state. Its population is estimated at 3200-3800 pairs, which is more than 30% of the world population of the European subspecies. In optimal habitats, the nesting density reaches 1.1 pairs / 10 km2, the local maximum density is noted in Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Dikiy Nikor tract) - 1.9 pairs / 10 km2.

The main threat factors:

Reduction of the area of ​​hayfields and grazing in favor of row crops, the development of river floodplains and territories of abandoned reclaimed farmlands bordering on forests; for dacha construction, poaching, rejuvenation of forests, replacement of various natural stands with monodominant pine forests as a result of felling and artificial reforestation, destruction of nests during clear felling, disturbance during the nesting period, predation of the pine marten.

Shifty crested eagle... Typical representative of the genus, medium-sized eagle. length 57-59 cm, weight 1.3-1.9 kg, wingspan 127-138 cm. Color is very variable. The top is brownish, the head and neck are usually buffy with dark longitudinal streaks, the chest is white with teardrop streaks, the plumage of the legs is rusty with transverse stripes.

There are morphs with a white bottom and absolutely black, the size of the crest varies geographically - from long to almost imperceptible. Young birds usually have a lighter plumage and more frequent transverse stripes on the wings and tail (clearly visible from below in flight). The eyes are light, the wax is gray, the paws are yellow.

Distributed throughout tropical Asia, except for the south of China and the north of Indochina, up to the Lesser Sunda and the Philippine Islands, it rises up to 1500 m in the mountains (above it is usually replaced by a larger eastern crested eagle). Inhabitant of forests, prefers to hunt on the edges, rarely hovers, usually looks out for prey from the perch. The diet contains large birds, frogs, lizards, small mammals.

A source: and "ANIMALS. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals of the World "

Appearance and behavior... A small predator, the male is about the size of a pigeon, the female is slightly smaller than a crow. Males weigh 100–220 g with a body length of 28–34 cm and a wingspan of 55–65 cm, females - 180–340 g with a body length of 35–41 cm and a wingspan of 67–80 cm.

The constitution is light, the tarsus are thin, the fingers are long, especially the average. The head is rounded, the beak is relatively small, the ridge of the beak does not form a smooth transition to the forehead line.

The look is not as piercing and "evil" as that of the goshawk.

Description... The adult male is slate-gray above and light below, with narrow chestnut-red or rusty transverse streaks forming small “ripples”.

The chin and cheeks are streaked with longitudinal streaks, the undertail is whitish, without streaks. The adult female is gray-brown above and light below with wider brown or gray transverse stripes on the chest and belly. Above the eye in birds of both sexes, a narrow white eyebrow is developed; with raised (tousled) plumage, sometimes white bases of scapular feathers and white spots on the back of the head are visible.

The wings look monochromatic from above, cross-striped from below, 4 evenly distributed dark transverse bands are visible on the gray tail from above and below. In a young individual, the dorsal side is brown, with dark spots and buffy edges of feathers, the ventral side is light with brown longitudinal streaks on the throat and chest, transverse streaks on the belly and arrow-shaped on the sides, less regular and larger than in the female.

The eyes are yellow (in the male - up to orange, in the young bird - a pale tone), the wax is from yellow (adults) to grayish (young), the beak is dark.

The female can be confused with the male goshaw in size and color, but a different shape of the head and beak, narrow (not wide) white eyebrow, thin legs are clearly visible near. In flying sparrowhawk, the neck is shorter, the tail is relatively longer, narrower at the base, with a straight cut rather than rounded apex; the wings look larger and wider in comparison with the body size, while hovering slightly forward relative to the body.

The flight is maneuverable, with alternating strokes and glides, easier than that of the goshawk; the sparrowhawk can hover and glide for a long time, opening its tail in a fan.

The sparrowhawk differs from the European tuvik in the color of the eyes, the presence of an eyebrow, a two-colored cheek, thin long tarsus and fingers, the female - the absence of a chin stroke, the male - by larger ripples on the chest.

Juveniles of these species are well distinguished by the nature of the streaks on the underside of the body. Flying adult Sparrowhawk, in contrast to Tuvik, has not dark and more dull wing tips and a tail evenly covered with transverse stripes, including the middle pair of tail feathers. Sparrowhawk at any age differs from small falcons in body proportions, elongated legs, wider wings with rounded tops, light eyes.

Distribution, status... It is widespread in extratropical Eurasia from the northern taiga to the Mediterranean (including the mountains of North Africa), Iran, and the Himalayas.

From west to east, its range extends from the Canary Islands and Western Europe to Japan and Kamchatka.

From northern Europe, Siberia, the Far East, it migrates to the south for the winter, part of the populations overwinter in the tropics and subtropics of Asia and northeastern Africa. In most of the range, this is one of the most common predators.

Lifestyle... Inhabits the most diverse forest and forest biotopes, prefers mosaic alternation of forest areas and edges in forest and forest-steppe zones, river floodplains in the steppe zone.

It willingly settles in agricultural landscapes, does not avoid the outskirts of settlements, and even nests in urban forest parks. In the mountains, it occurs up to an altitude of 5000 meters above sea level.

It flies far into the tundra, in the open steppes and deserts, it is found only on roaming sites. Prey - almost exclusively small birds, rarely - small rodents and insects, the female can get a hazel grouse, a crow. Usually it hunts, attacking from an ambush, or hides the bird in an inconspicuous search flight low above the ground.

Pairs are tied to a permanent nesting site, appear on it in March or April, every spring they build a new small nest, usually well hidden in the crown of a tree near the trunk.

In clutch there are 3–6 whitish eggs with rusty or brown spots. The female incubates for 32–35 days, starting from the second or third egg. Both downy outfits of chicks are white with a beige tint. First, the male feeds the brood, then the female begins to hunt. The behavior of birds at the nest varies, from cautious to very aggressive.

Feeding chicks in the nest lasts about a month. They become sexually mature after 1-3 years of life.

Sparrowhawk, or Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Other species of this family:

Family Hawk (Accipitridae)

Hawk birds (Latin Accipitridae) are a family of falcon birds.

Found on all continents except Antarctica and some oceanic islands, the most diverse and abundant in the tropics.

There are cosmopolitan species whose range covers several parts of the world; island forms have a dotted range. They are found in the most diverse types of landscapes: forests, tundra, steppes, deserts, in the mountains up to an altitude of 7000 meters above sea level.

Typical predators with the appearance of an eagle, buzzard, kite, hawk, vulture, with a wide range of morphological and lifestyle characteristics.

The word "hawk" undoubtedly comes from the verb "to exterminate." The sizes vary considerably.

The beak is compressed from the sides, the ridge of the beak is sharply curved downward closer to the apex, the mandible is straight.

The eyes are large (approximately 1% of body weight), directed noticeably forward, which provides a large field of binocular vision.

Birds of prey: photos with names and descriptions

Visual acuity exceeds human visual acuity by about 8 times.

The plumage is rigid, contoured feathers with a well-developed down part and a side shaft.

Almost all species are carnivores. The exception is the African vulture eagle, or the palm vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) feeds mainly on the fruits of several types of palm trees. Many species are specialized.

Wasp and smoky kites are entomophages, eagles are ichthyophages, many buzzards, "light" harriers are myophages), snake eagles and buffoon eagles are herpetophages, hawks and marsh harrier are ornithophages, and vultures are scavengers. But most are polyphages with a wide range of nutrition. Feeding methods are varied.

Undigested food residues - bones, wool, feathers, chitin - are excreted in the form of pellets.

Taxonomy

All hawks are divided into 5-10 subfamilies, mainly by morphological characteristics.

However, some taxa in these groups have significantly deviated from the main mass, and nevertheless they still occupy their present position, since they are closest to falling under these groups. The phylogenesis and taxonomy of the hawk are the subject of scientific controversy.

To date, the systematics of hawks is as follows:

• Subfamily Smoky Kites (Elaninae) - 8 species
  • Genus Smoky Kites (Elanus)
  • Genus Chelictinia
  • Genus Broad-mouthed kites (Machaerhamphus)
  • Genus Little Kites (Gampsonyx)
  • Genus Fork-tailed kites (Elanoides)

• Subfamily Perninae - c.
  • Genus Crested Kites (Aviceda)
  • Genus Long-tailed wasp-eaters (Hernicopernis)
  • Genus Real Wasps (Pernis)
  • Genus Cayenne Kites (Leptodon)
  • Genus Long-billed kites (Chondrohierax)

• Subfamily Vultures (Aegypiinae) - approx. 15 types
  • Genus Indian eared vultures (Sarcogyps)
  • Rod Black Vultures (Aegypius)
  • Genus African eared vultures (Torgos)
  • Genus African white-chinned vultures (Trigonoceps)
  • Rod Vultures (Gyps)
  • Genus Vultures (Neophron)
  • Genus Brown vultures (Necrosyrtes)
  • Genus Palm Vultures (Gypohierax)
  • Genus Lamb (Gypaetus)

• Subfamily Buzzards (Buteoninae) - approx.

  100 modern species

  • Genus Eagle buzzards (Geranoaetus)
  • Genus True Buzzards (Buteo)
  • Genus Desert Buzzards (Parabuteo)
  • Genus Black Buzzards (Buteogallus)
  • Genus Fishing Buzzards (Busarellus)
  • Genus Pied Buzzards (Leucopternis)
  • Genus Lizard Buzzards (Kaupifalco)
  • Genus Hawk Buzzards (Butastur)
  • Genus Hermit Eagles (Harpyhaliaetus)
  • Genus Long-tailed harpy (Morphnus)
  • Family of Harpy (Harpia)
  • Genus Filipino harpy (Pithecophaga)
  • Genus New Guinea Harpy (Harpyopsis)
  • Genus Mourning Eagles (Oroaetus)
  • Genus Black and White Eagles (Spizastur)
  • Genus Crested Eagles (Spizaetus)
  • Genus Crested Eagles (Lophaetus) - possibly synonymous with Ictinaetus
  • Genus Crowned Eagles (Stephanoaetus)
  • Genus Battle Eagles (Polemaetus)
  • Genus Long-tailed eagles (Hieraaetus)
  • Rod Eagles (Aquila)
  • Genus Egg-eating eagles (Ictinaetus)
  • Genus Eagles (Haliaeetus)
  • Genus Fishing Eagles (Ichthyophaga)

• Subfamily Lunevye (Circinae) - about 16 modern.
  • Rod Looney (Circus)
  • Genus Moonhawks (Polyboroides)
  • Genus Crane hawks (Geranospiza)

• Subfamily Kites (Milvinae) - approx. 14 types
  • Genus Two-toothed kites (Harpagus)
  • Genus Gray Kites (Ictinia)
  • Genus of the Slug-eating Kite (Rostrhamus)
  • Genus Brahmin Kites (Haliastur)
  • Genus True Kites (Milvus)
  • Genus Chubate kites (Lophoictinia)
  • Genus Buzzard Kites (Hamirostra)

• Subfamily Hawks (Accipitrinae) - c.

  55 modern species

  • Genus True Hawks (Accipiter)
  • Genus Micronisus
  • Genus Singing Hawks (Melierax)
  • Genus Long-tailed hawks (Urotriorchis)
  • Genus Red Hawks (Erythrotriorchis)
  • Genus New Guinea Hawks (Megatriorchis)

• Subfamily of the Serpentine (Circaetinae) - approx. 12 types
  • Genus Buffoon Eagles (Terathopius)
  • Genus True snake-eaters (Circaetus)
  • Genus Crested snake-eaters (Spilornis)
  • Genus Madagascar snake-eaters (Eutriorchis)

This term has other meanings, see Eagle.

Eagles in the broadest sense of the word - the name applied to representatives of the subfamily of eagles (Latin Aquilinae) of the family of hawks ( Accipitridae). In addition, this is the name of large birds of prey that resemble representatives of the above group of birds, that is, having an eagle appearance.

Characteristic features of eagles are massive build, long and relatively wide wings with finger-like flight feathers, massive beak and strong legs with large curved claws and elongated feathers on the outer side of the thigh and lower leg (“trousers”). When hunting, as a rule, they hover high above the surface of the earth, relying on sight to find prey. The composition of food depends on the species and habitat of birds, but in all cases, eagles are on the highest steps of the trophic pyramids.

The word "eagle" is present in the species names of birds of prey belonging to other subfamilies. For example, the buffoon eagle ( Terathopius ecaudatus), Madagascar snake eagle ( Eutriorchis astur), which indicates their external resemblance to eagles.

In English, the word eagle denote an even greater number of species, including eagles ( Haliaeetus) - Fish-eagles and snake-eaters ( Circaetus) - Snake-eagles, which have a very distant relationship to eagles.

Eagle - appearance and description of features, nutrition, habitat, reproduction + 85 photos

The Russian name Akulina comes from the Latin name Aquilinae

Taxonomy [| the code]

According to modern concepts, species classified as eagles represent a monophyletic group, to which representatives of the Harpy subfamily are morphologically close ( Harpiinae). This includes the genera of the Harpy ( Harpia), New Guinea Harpies ( Harpyopsis), Long-tailed Harpies ( Morphnus), Philippine Harpies ( Pithecophaga), and Hermit Eagles ( Harpyhaliaetus).

However, the similarities with this group may be convergent.

Subfamily Eagles ( Aquilinae)

• The genus Eagle-egg-eater ( Ictinaetus)
  • Ictinaetus malayensis Ovarian eagle

• Rod Battle Eagles ( Polemaetus)
  • Polemaetus bellicosus Combat (warlike) eagle