Difference between revisions of "Eastern imperial eagle"
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| − | |conservation= | + | |conservation=Vulnerable <ref>https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22696048/155464885</ref> |
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| + | The '''eastern imperial eagle''' (''Aquila heliaca'') is a [[bird of prey]] within the family [[Accipitridae]], and found throughout much of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. | ||
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| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | Overall, the eastern imperial eagle is large for an eagle, yet fairly average-sized within its genus of ''Aquila''. It measures 26.7 to 34.2 inches in length with a wingspan of 6.7 feet and a weight of 8.8 pounds. Females are 10% larger than males. It has a mainly black-brown plumage, with a distinctive creamy yellow nape and white shoulders. Its head and neck are quite broad and its grayish beak is imposing. As with other members in ''Aquila'', its feet are feathered to the toes. Juvenile birds are lighter in color, with primary, secondary, and upper covert feathers tipped in white; adult plumage is worn beginning in its fifth year. The eastern imperial eagle is also a soaring bird, the large wings taking advantage of thermal currents of rising warm air, soaring for hours and miles. | ||
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| + | ==Threats== | ||
| + | The eastern imperial eagle, like many birds of prey, was blamed for livestock losses and hence suffered persecution from man starting in the 17th century<ref>Maarten Bijleveld, "The systematic persecution: A review of historical and more recent examples of the destruction of birds of prey in Europe"; from ''Birds of Prey in Europe'', Macmillan Education UK, 1974 (pages 1-43) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-02393-6_1</ref>. It thus experienced a sharp decline, exacerbated by the destruction of nesting trees, the disappearance of its prey, and either deliberate poisoning intended for the eagle itself, or involuntary poisoning via traps intended for mammalian predators (wolves, foxes, etc). | ||
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| + | Numerous conservation efforts have helped revive the species. It was notably classified as vulnerable by the IUCN in 1994<ref>https://app.birda.org/species-guide/8320/Eastern_Imperial_Eagle</ref>. While it was estimated that between 363 and 604 pairs remained in Europe in 1996<ref>Heredia, B. (1996). ''International action plan for the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). Globally Threatened Birds of Europe: Action Plans''. Council of Europe Publishing[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/239547357_INTERNATIONAL_ACTION_PLAN_FOR_THE_IMPERIAL_EAGLE_Aquila_heliaca]</ref>, this number had risen to between 1,800 and 2,200 in 2010<ref>Demerdzhiev, D., Horváth, M., Kovács, A., Stoychev, S., & Karyakin, I. (2011). Status and population trend of the eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Europe in the period 2000–2010. Acta zoologica Bulgarica Supplementum (pages 3, 5-14)[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261726710_Status_and_Population_Trend_of_the_Eastern_Imperial_Eagle_Aquila_heliaca_in_Europe_in_the_Period_2000-2010]</ref>. | ||
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <small><references/></small> | ||
[[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Eagles]] | [[Category:Birds of Prey]][[Category:Eagles]] | ||
Revision as of 09:43, July 11, 2025
| Eastern Imperial Eagle | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Superorder | Passerimorphae |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Infraorder | Falconides |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Sub-family | Buteoninae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Aquila |
| Species Information | |
| Species | A. heliaca |
| Population statistics | |
| Population | 3,500-15,000 (Oct 2016)[1] |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable [2] |
The eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a bird of prey within the family Accipitridae, and found throughout much of Europe and Asia.
Description
Overall, the eastern imperial eagle is large for an eagle, yet fairly average-sized within its genus of Aquila. It measures 26.7 to 34.2 inches in length with a wingspan of 6.7 feet and a weight of 8.8 pounds. Females are 10% larger than males. It has a mainly black-brown plumage, with a distinctive creamy yellow nape and white shoulders. Its head and neck are quite broad and its grayish beak is imposing. As with other members in Aquila, its feet are feathered to the toes. Juvenile birds are lighter in color, with primary, secondary, and upper covert feathers tipped in white; adult plumage is worn beginning in its fifth year. The eastern imperial eagle is also a soaring bird, the large wings taking advantage of thermal currents of rising warm air, soaring for hours and miles.
Threats
The eastern imperial eagle, like many birds of prey, was blamed for livestock losses and hence suffered persecution from man starting in the 17th century[3]. It thus experienced a sharp decline, exacerbated by the destruction of nesting trees, the disappearance of its prey, and either deliberate poisoning intended for the eagle itself, or involuntary poisoning via traps intended for mammalian predators (wolves, foxes, etc).
Numerous conservation efforts have helped revive the species. It was notably classified as vulnerable by the IUCN in 1994[4]. While it was estimated that between 363 and 604 pairs remained in Europe in 1996[5], this number had risen to between 1,800 and 2,200 in 2010[6].
References
- ↑ https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22696048/155464885#population
- ↑ https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22696048/155464885
- ↑ Maarten Bijleveld, "The systematic persecution: A review of historical and more recent examples of the destruction of birds of prey in Europe"; from Birds of Prey in Europe, Macmillan Education UK, 1974 (pages 1-43) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-02393-6_1
- ↑ https://app.birda.org/species-guide/8320/Eastern_Imperial_Eagle
- ↑ Heredia, B. (1996). International action plan for the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). Globally Threatened Birds of Europe: Action Plans. Council of Europe Publishing[1]
- ↑ Demerdzhiev, D., Horváth, M., Kovács, A., Stoychev, S., & Karyakin, I. (2011). Status and population trend of the eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Europe in the period 2000–2010. Acta zoologica Bulgarica Supplementum (pages 3, 5-14)[2]