Eagles are diurnal birds of prey that are part of the Accipitridae family, along with the Old World vultures. These are animals greatly admired by humans, although some people may consider them terrifying. It is due to their fame as voracious predators and, not surprisingly, since the characteristics of eagles are closely related to their great ability to hunt.
What are eagles like?
The characteristics of eagles are closely related to predation, that is, they are carnivorous animals very well adapted to hunting. These are some of the peculiarities that can give you more information about what eagles are like:
- Size: The largest eagles can reach a wingspan of more than two meters, while the smallest have a wingspan of one meter. As for the length of its body, it varies between 90 and 40 centimeters.
- Color: Most eagles are brown in color, although some species are gray or whitish.
- Wings: Its wings are wide, long and rectangular. At their end, they present digitations, that is, the primary feathers are separated and have the appearance of fingers.
- Beak: Eagles are birds of prey, so their beaks are adapted to tearing flesh. Therefore, it curves down and forms a kind of hook with sharp edges, but not serrations.
- Claws: The nails of these birds are very strong claws, sharp and curved inwards. They use them to catch their prey and grab them while they are being transported.
- Cola: they have a more or less rounded tail, with the end pointing outwards. It is one of the characteristics of eagles that we must pay attention to in order to differentiate them from other birds of prey.
- Sexual dimorphism: Larger female eagles are very similar to males, although they tend to be larger. However, the smaller eagles (harriers) show marked dimorphism, with a different coloration appearing in each sex.
What are baby eagles like?
As is the case with many types of birds, young eagles are born covered with light down, usually white. This down disappears with development, while the true feathers appear.
In many eagles, the feathers of juveniles are lighter in color than those of adults. This is because every year they undergo a molt of their plumage, which becomes darker.
Eagle behavior
Among the characteristics of the eagles, their interesting behavior stands out. In this section, we are going to analyze how they hunt and reproduce.
How do eagles hunt?
These large birds of prey have diurnal habits, that is, they go out in search of their prey during the day, although they can also be seen at twilight. Most eagles like to hunt in open spaces with few trees and good visibility.
To catch their prey, they fly over it and try to surprise it. However, they often don't succeed, so they go on chases worthy of a movie. They then use their claws to pick them up, strangle them, and transport them to a safe place to feed. Only when the prey is already dead do they begin to tear the meat with their beak, while helping themselves with their claws.
If you want to know more about the diet of these large birds of prey, we recommend this other article on What eagles eat.
Eagle Play
Eagles are monogamous animals, that is, they mate for life At the end of winter, both parents meet and perform a nuptial flight with which they strengthen their relationship. In addition, they often mark their territory with cries, warning other eagles that this space is theirs.
They then begin to prepare the nest, which is usually a very robust construction made with sticks. Normally, the nest is located in the same place every year. Some eagles nest on rocks, while others nest in trees. An exception is the smaller harriers or eagles, which prefer to nest in bushes or on the ground.
After building the nest and copulating, the female lays her eggs. Both parents take care of the eggs. To do this, the female incubates while the male feeds her When the young are born, both the male and the female feed and protect them, although she usually spends more time and energy.
What is the largest eagle in the world?
One of the most outstanding characteristics of eagles is the enormous size they can reach. However, it is not easy to answer which is the largest eagle in the world. This is because the size of these animals varies between each individual depending on their quality of life and their sex, with females reaching the largest sizes.
As if that were not enough, it is not the same to speak of wingspan as body length. In order to compare these parameters, we have brought together what may be the largest eagles in the world. They are as follows:
- Golden Eagle (Aquila chry saetos): female golden eagles can reach a wingspan of 2.3 meters and 96 centimeters body length.
- European Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla): it is a sea eagle that can measure up to 2.1 or 2.4 meters wingspan (depending on the source) and 90 centimeters in body length.
- Giant eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus): females of this Asian species measure up to 2.3 meters in wingspan and 100 centimeters in length. body length. For this reason, it is this species that is usually awarded the title of the largest eagle in the world.
Differences between eagles and other birds of prey
The characteristics of eagles can seem very similar to those of other birds of prey, so much so that it can be difficult to tell them apart. Therefore, we have gathered the main differences between eagles and other birds of prey.
Differences between eagle and hawk
Falcons belong to the order Falconiformes, while eagles form, together with vultures and kites (among others), the order Accipitriformes. These are the main differences between eagles and hawks:
- Wings: Hawks have the narrowest, most pointed wings. In addition, they are directed backwards, forming a kind of elbow and do not have fingerings at the ends. Therefore, they do not glide as much as eagles, but flap their wings much more.
- Pico: falcons have a serrated beak, that is, with a triangular projection that works like a tooth.
- Patas: Hawks' feet are not covered in feathers, as eagles often are.
Differences between eagle and vulture
Eagles and vultures are very different diurnal birds of prey. However, it is difficult to tell them apart while in flight, as both have dark colors, broad wings, and fingerings on the ends. These are their main differences in flight:
- Neck: Vultures have very long necks. However, they carry it very close during the flight, so much so that the head barely protrudes from the body. The eagles head protrudes a bit more.
- Tail: The eagle's tail is longer in relation to its size. In addition, its end is rounded, while that of the vultures is more triangular.
- Flight: Vultures flap their wings less than eagles, taking more advantage of air currents. In addition, its flight is circular and it is often surrounded by other vultures. Eagles, however, are solitary animals.
If you want to learn more about eagles, don't miss this other article on Where do eagles live?
