Eagles are diurnal birds of prey highly specialized in hunting. They are often solitary, elusive and enigmatic animals that live far from humans. For this reason, we have always wondered where do eagles live and we have imagined their hiding place in our mythology.
The Norse tell of a nameless eagle perched on the tree of life, known as Yggdrasil. Chilean mythology, however, tells that a golden eagle lives in deposits of precious metals. Although they don't stray far from the real eagles' habitat, they prefer much simpler places. Do you want to know where eagles live? Don't miss this article on our site!
Eagle Habitat
Eagles are diurnal birds of prey that live in places away from humans and close to the area where they feed Some species they prefer solitude, forming pairs only during the breeding season. Other eagles, usually the smallest ones, build their nests together with those of other pairs or gather in roosts during the winter.
Although some of them have a similar biology, the habitat of the eagles depends a lot on the species. These are the most frequent places where eagles live:
- Rocky cuts in the mountains.
- Forests.
- Bush.
- Wetlands.
- Meadows.
- Cereal crops.
To better explain what life is like in these places, we are going to see where the best-known eagles live. Also, you may be interested in this other article on What do eagles eat.
Golden Eagle Habitat
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is distributed throughout Eurasia and North America It is a sedentary bird that always lives in the same place, although the young make long flights when they become independent from their parents. In addition, they are monogamous, so the nesting place is usually constant.
The habitat of the golden eagle is the mountainous or rugged areas where tranquility reigns. Normally, they are located near places with few trees, good visibility for hunting and a great abundance of prey. When spring arrives, pairs gather and build their nests in rocky cliffs, although some pairs may nest in trees.
Where do imperial eagles live?
The eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) nests from central Europe to Mongolia, but migrates to southern China and the North Africa when winter approaches. Their habitat is forests, both in the mountains and in the plains, although it is more common to see them in the mountains. It is due to the harassment they have suffered from human beings in the lower areas.
As for the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), it is an endemism of Spain and Portugal that lives in wooded areas with a Mediterranean climate, such as holm oaks and cork oaks. These predatory animals are in danger of extinction due to persecution by humans and many other threats, such as the disappearance of their habitat.
Both species build their nests in the tops of large trees capable of supporting a lot of weight. This is because their nests are huge structures made with sticks by both parents, although with greater involvement of the female.
Harpy Eagle Habitat
The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) lives in the humid rain forests of Central and South America Above all, it is found in forests of evergreen trees and low altitudes, not exceeding 800 meters above sea level. It rarely lives in deciduous forests or dry forests.
Because it feeds primarily on arboreal mammals, the harpy eagle does not usually come out of the forest to hunt or come down to the ground. Therefore, they build their nests on large trees, such as cuipos (Cavanillesia platanifolia) and ceibos (Ceiba pentandra). They are very territorial birds and each pair guards more than 20 square kilometers.
The disappearance of the habitat of the harpy eagle and its prey is one of the most important causes of its progressive decline. Added to this is the hunting of live specimens for the falconry business and persecution by ranchers and hunters. Today it is considered a near threatened species globally and is Endangered in many countries.
Bald Eagle Habitat
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is endemic to North America Its habitat is related to the presence of its main prey: fish. Therefore, they always live in woody areas near water sources and far from human constructions. It is in these places that they make their nests, choosing the largest and tallest trees.
When it is not the breeding season, it is very common for them to gather in areas with abundant food sources, such as the estuaries. However, they are not considered to form colonies.
The transformation of their habitats into crops and pastures for cattle and pesticide poisoning are the main threats to these carnivorous animals, although they are not currently considered in danger of extinction.
Where do little eagles live?
The habitat of small eagles is much more varied than that of larger ones. Although some live in mountain forests, such as the Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), the rest usually live in wetlands, thickets or meadows We leave you some examples that allow you to understand better where the smaller eagles live:
- Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus): lives on the banks of wetlands such as marshes, reservoirs or streams. To build their nests, they choose isolated reeds or nearby grasslands, such as cereal fields.
- Harrier Harrier (C. cyaneus): lives in scrubland with few or no trees or in cereal crops. There, it nests directly on the ground by placing sticks and leaves. In winter, they gather in roosts among the marshy vegetation of wetlands.
- Montagu's Harrier (C. pygargus): although it can nest in bushy areas, it usually does so in prairies or grasslands. Due to the substitution of these ecosystems by cereal crops, it currently builds its nests among the crops, directly on the ground. For this reason, harvesting with machinery and without control poses a danger to their survival.
