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Bonelli's Eagle

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

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Bonelli's Eagle is a medium-large, powerful booted eagle named after the Italian naturalist Franco Andrea Bonelli. It ranges from southern Europe and North Africa across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to South-East Asia and is mostly resident. It favours rugged, hilly country with cliffs and has declined regionally, especially in Europe, due to habitat loss, electrocution on power lines and persecution.

Did you know?

  • Its feathered legs mark it as a classic booted eagle.
  • The species is named after Franco Andrea Bonelli, who collected the type specimen.

Voice

Sound

About the species

Identification

A medium-large eagle with long wings and a long, square-ended tail. Adults are dark brown above with a white patch on the back and white underparts with dark streaks; in flight the underwing has a dark band along the coverts and the tail a broad dark terminal band. Juveniles are warm rufous-buff below.

Family

Accipitridae

Size

Very large (swan)

Colours

brown, white, grey, yellow

About the habitat

Hilly and mountainous terrain with cliffs and crags in open to lightly wooded landscapes, from sea level to mid-elevations.

Diet

Mainly rabbits, gamebirds such as partridges, and pigeons; when these are scarce, a broader range of mostly birds, as well as reptiles.

Behaviour

A fast, agile hunter that often soars along slopes and cliffs and launches swift pursuits, sometimes with the pair hunting together. Sedentary and territorial, pairs maintain their home ranges year-round and nest on cliff ledges or occasionally in large trees.

Sources

Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bonelli's Eagle - Montsonis - Spain S4E8373 (24849913309).jpg

Sound: Bubulcus, CC BY 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bonellis_eagle.ogg

Text: Wikipedia (English), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonelli%27s_eagle

See also