In the endless azure expanse of the eastern sky, a majestic creature soars, its wings outstretched, catching the warm updrafts that carry it higher and higher. The Eastern imperial eagle, a true monarch of the skies, surveys its domain with a keen eye, searching for prey and guarding its territory from rivals.
| Serial Number | Characteristics | Description |
| 1 | Common name | Eastern imperial eagle |
| 2 | Scientific name | Aquila heliaca |
| 3 | Colour | Dark brown plumage with golden-brown nape and white shoulder patches |
| 4 | Average length | 72-90 cm |
| 5 | Average height | 30-40 cm |
| 6 | Type of bird | Bird of prey |
| 7 | Found in | Eurasia, including parts of Europe and Asia, and parts of North Africa |
| 8 | Habitat | Forests, open woodlands, steppes, and mountainous regions |
| 9 | Status | Vulnerable |
Features
The Eastern imperial eagle is a magnificent bird of prey that boasts a number of impressive physical features. Its body is a dark brown color, with golden feathers on its head and neck that shine like molten gold in the sunlight. Its wingspan can stretch up to an impressive 2.3 meters, allowing it to glide effortlessly over the rolling hills and valleys of its native habitat.
This bird stands tall and proud, with a height of up to 90 centimeters, making it one of the largest raptors in its range. Its legs are long and muscular, with sharp talons that are designed to snatch prey from the ground or from the air. Its beak is curved and powerful, allowing it to rip through flesh and bone with ease.
The Eastern imperial eagle is a truly impressive bird, and its physical features reflect this. Its keen eyesight is one of its most notable attributes, allowing it to spot prey from great distances. It has a distinctive hooked beak that is perfectly adapted for tearing apart meat, and its talons are long and sharp, making it an efficient hunter.
Habitat and Food
These birds can be found in open grasslands, forested areas, and even in semi-arid regions, where they hunt for their food.
The Eastern Imperial Eagle primarily feeds on small mammals such as rabbits, hares, and rodents, but will also eat birds, reptiles, and insects. These birds are skilled hunters, using their powerful talons and sharp beaks to capture their prey. They often hunt from a perch, scanning the ground for movement before swooping down to make their strike.
Nesting and Nurturing
During the breeding season, Eastern Imperial Eagles engage in fascinating nesting habits that are well worth exploring.
These eagles build their nests, also called eyries, in the upper branches of tall trees, often located in forests or on the edge of wooded areas. The nests are made of sticks and branches, and are lined with softer materials such as grass, moss, or fur. They are usually quite large, measuring up to two meters across and weighing as much as 200 kilograms.
Female Eastern Imperial Eagles lay a clutch of two eggs, which are incubated by both parents over a period of about 45 days. The eggs are a pale white or cream color, with brownish splotches or spots. Once the eggs hatch, both parents take an active role in caring for the young. They will tear up small pieces of meat, which is fed to the chicks, and they will also keep the nest clean and free of debris.
The baby eagles, or eaglets, are covered in soft, downy feathers when they hatch, and are entirely dependent on their parents for food and protection. They grow rapidly, and by the time they are six weeks old, they are already starting to grow adult feathers. At around 70 days old, the eaglets are ready to leave the nest and begin their life on their own.
IUCN Status
The Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that the species is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, and its population has declined significantly in recent years. The primary threats to the Eastern imperial eagle include habitat loss and degradation, hunting, persecution, and collisions with power lines and wind turbines. In some regions, the illegal trade in live birds and their eggs also poses a significant threat to the species.
