The name eagle brings together several species that share anatomical and ecological characteristics and that have always called our attention due to their majesty. These diurnal birds of prey are known to be hunters and predators, so they feed on meat, although some may supplement their diet with other foods or have a very specific diet. They are distributed throughout the world, except in Antarctica. They make up the order of the Accipitriformes, which encompasses a great diversity of genera and species that are characterized by having hook-shaped beaks, strong claws with which they hunt and catch their prey, as well as a highly developed sense of sight.
There are approximately 60 species of eagles around the world, many of them in danger of extinction. Due to its great diversity, here we will show you the best known and most representative species from around the world. Continue reading this article on our site and we will show you some types of eagles, as well as other characteristics of these wonderful birds.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
This species is native to North America and ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico. The bald eagle is very plastic in terms of the environments it occupies, since it can be seen in forests, swamps, rivers, mountainous areas and deserts. The females of this species can weigh more than 7 kg and reach almost two meters of wingspan. It is very characteristic for its completely white head and the rest of the brownish body.
Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti)
It is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula, where it ranges from coastal to mountainous environments. Its size ranges from 70 to 80 cm in length, its wingspan can reach about two meters in length and its plumage is brown. It is a rather long-lived species and is currently categorized as vulnerable, so is protected within the peninsula.
If you want to know other long-lived animals, you may be interested in this other article on our site about What are the longest-living animals?
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
It is an almost cosmopolitan species of eagle and is distributed in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa It is a fairly general bird in As far as prey is concerned, it can inhabit forests, mountain areas and croplands, with a greater number of them being found in mountainous areas and cliffs, which are the places where they nest. The coloration of its plumage varies in shades of chestnut and gold on the head. The female of this species reaches more than two meters in wingspan and can reach more than 6 kg
Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata)
This species is distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin to Southeast Asia, where it inhabits mountain ranges. It is about 70 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 180 cm and brownish-brown plumage with very characteristic brown streaks on the chest. This species is categorized as danger of extinction in Spain, being threatened by illegal hunting, power lines (which cause many deaths of this species), loss of its habitat and the reduction of its prey (the country rabbit), among other causes.
In this other article we show you other animals in danger of extinction in Spain.
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
This is a neotropical species that inhabits jungles and rain forests with tall trees and in a good state of conservation. It is distributed from Central America to northern Argentina. It is considered one of the largest and most powerful eagles that currently exist, the female being able to reach more than 1 meter in length and more than two meters in wingspan. Its plumage is greyish-whitish and it has rows of crest-like feathers. Their claws are over 14 cm long and their beak is just as powerful, which they use to catch their prey. This species is categorized as close to threat, mainly due to the destruction of its habitat.
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Poma Eagle (Spizaetus isidori)
The poma eagle is native to South America and its distribution ranges from Venezuela to northwestern Argentina, where it inhabits high Andean forests. It can reach about 80 cm in length and is characteristic for its dark and ocher plumage with black streaks on the chest and a crest on the head. In addition, its iris is orange, which makes it a very striking eagle. This is another species that is close to threat, since it depends on tall trees to nest, so the destruction of the natural environments where it lives is a serious threat.
Steller's Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)
Also called Steller's eagle, this large species is found in northeastern Asia, where it feeds and lives in the costs. It is considered, together with the harpy, one of the largest and most powerful eagles, reaching more than a meter in length and 2.5 meters in wingspan, making it an imposing species. Undoubtedly, its most notable feature is its enormous beak and robust yellow color together with its legs, of the same color, which it uses to fish, since it is of a marine species Its plumage is dark brown with white details on the forehead, wings and thighs. It is a species that is vulnerable due to excessive fishing that limits its food source and water pollution, among other causes.
African Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
It is an eagle native to Sub-Saharan Africa, where it lives in dense forests. This species is somewhat smaller than the rest of the eagles, however, it is considered the strongest in its habitat, reaching just over 90 cm in length with a wingspan of about 180 cm. Its plumage is dark reddish with cream-colored spots, and its wings are very remarkable for their shape, since they are more rounded and short, typical of species that hunt in forests and jungles, since it allows them an excellent maneuver within the vegetation.. It is considered a very important species and is protected , since it controls the populations of mammals that can be harmful to activities such as agriculture.
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Also called European sea eagle, this species is distributed along the coasts of northern Europe and Asia. It occupies the same ecological niche as the Steller's eagle, but in different areas, since it is also a sea eagle Its length is about 90 cm and it has a wingspan very wide wing, almost 2.5 meters. Its coloration is brown with lighter tones on the head, being quite large, as is its robust and strong beak. It is a long-lived species, being able to reach more than 25 years of age
Bold Eagle (Aquila audax)
Also known as Wedge-tailed Eagle, its distribution includes Australia and southern New Guinea. It is a species that occupies a variety of environments, but to nest it needs tall trees (up to more than 30 meters) or, in the absence of trees, it nests on the edges of cliffs. It has an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail, hence its name. In addition, it is a bird of great size, with more than a meter in height and more than two meters in wingspan. It has a reddish-brown plumage that becomes darker with age. This species was once highly persecuted because it was believed to attack cattle, today it is protected by law in Australia
Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
This species is endemic to forests in the Philippines Its plumage is brown and white, with lighter feathers on the head that form a erectile crest and give it a lion-like appearance. In addition, their irises are very striking, since they are gray-bluish in color. It measures approximately 1 meter in height and its wingspan is more than two meters. It is known as eagle eats monkeys, since its main source of food is these animals, although it also consumes other medium-sized mammals. This species of eagle is listed as critically endangered due to pollution, illegal hunting and mining, among others, and is currently punishable by imprisonment. damage to this species.
You may also be interested in this other article on What do eagles eat?
Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)
Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, this species occupies environments such as savannas, forests and semi-open areas, depending on the abundance of food. Its plumage is dark brown on the upper parts, and lighter on the chest and limbs. It measures approximately one meter in length and its wingspan is more than 2.6 meters, being a large species and considered the largest in Africa, as it can hunt prey much larger than itself, such as small antelope. And, in addition, it can attack domestic livestock, which is why it is a species that is highly persecuted by humans. Because of this, it is listed as vulnerable.
What makes eagles different from other diurnal birds of prey?
Eagles differ from other diurnal birds of prey, such as hawks, sparrowhawks or kites, due to several characteristics. In addition to belonging to another order (many of the other species are from the order Falconiformes), their differences are above all anatomical, since all these birds share the way of feed and several of them the same ecological niches. The main differences are as follows:
- The eagles are bigger: their sizes differentiate them without problems, since the eagles reach sizes much larger than the rest of the diurnal raptors, averaging 60 to 80 cm in length, while falcons, for example, average 30 to 40 cm in length.
- Eagles are more robust: the body of the eagle is also much more robust than that of the rest of the Falconiformes birds of prey.
- The shape of the wings: eagles have broader, larger wings with primary feathers like fingers on the tips of the wings, which allows them to make long glides at high altitudes. Unlike falcons, for example, which have elongated, conical wings that end in a point.
- The shape of the beak: the beak of eagles is hooked, but unlike hawks, for example, they do not have edges serrated on it.
- Speed: Eagles are among the largest and strongest of the diurnal birds of prey, and while they are fast and capable of hunting in flight, the hawks surpass them, since these are the fastest of the birds of prey, being able to reach more than 300 km/hour.