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Booted Eagle
Hieraaetus pennatus
Identify the Booted Eagle by sound or photo and log your sightings with Birdpass.
The Booted Eagle is a small, buzzard-sized eagle with a broad range across southern Europe, North Africa and Asia, and a small separate population in south-western Africa. Most northern birds winter in tropical Africa and South Asia. It occurs in pale and dark morphs and frequents wooded, often hilly country with open areas, nesting in trees or on cliffs.
Did you know?
- Its pale and dark morphs are inherited in a simple Mendelian way, the pale form being dominant.
- It is one of the smallest eagles in Europe, about the size of a Common Buzzard.
Voice
About the species
Identification
A small eagle with fairly long, straight-edged wings and a long, square tail. The pale morph has creamy-white underparts and underwing coverts contrasting with dark flight feathers; the dark morph is brown below with a paler tail. In both, small white “landing lights” show where the wings join the body, and a pale band crosses the upperwing coverts.
Family
Accipitridae
Size
Large (crow)
Colours
brown, orange, white, yellow, black
About the habitat
Wooded, often hilly country with clearings, open areas and rocky slopes; in the north it nests in trees in conifer or deciduous woods, in southern Africa on cliffs. Migrants use many habitats but avoid dense forest.
Diet
Mainly small birds, as well as small mammals and reptiles, taken in fast stoops with folded wings and outstretched feet.
Behaviour
Usually seen alone or in pairs, often flying fairly low. Pairs perform aerial courtship displays and lay 1–2 eggs; the male brings food while the female incubates. Northern populations are migratory, while southern African birds are largely resident. Its call is a shrill “kli-kli-kli”.
Sources
Photo: Subramanya C K, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Booted eagle (India, 2012).jpg
Sound: Bubulcus, CC BY 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Booted_Eagle.ogg
Text: Wikipedia (English), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booted_eagle
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