Eagle

Eagle

Bald Eagle

Scientific classification

Kingdo Animalia m:

Phylum: Chordata

Class:

Aves

Falconiformes ( or Order: Accipitriformes, q.v.)

Family:

Accipitridae

Genera

Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 61 species occur in Eurasia and Africa.[1] Outside this area, just two species (the Bald and Golden Eagles) can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in Central and South America, and three in Australia. Many different species of eagle are found in the Philippines. Description Eagles differ from many other birds of prey[which?] mainly by their larger size, more powerful build, and heavier head and beak. Even the smallest eagles, like the Booted Eagle (which is comparable in size to a Common Buzzard or Red-tailed Hawk), have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight. (Despite reduced size in aerodynamic feathers) Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from some vultures. Species named as eagles range in size from the South Nicobar Serpent Eagle, at 500 g (1.1 lb) and 40 cm (16 in), to the 6.7 kg (14.7 lbs) Steller's Sea Eagle and the 100 cm (39 in) Philippine Eagle. Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong muscular legs, and powerful talons. The beak is typically heavier than most other birds of prey. They also have extremely keen eyesight which enables them to spot potential prey from a very long distance.[2] This keen eyesight is primarily contributed by their extremely large pupils which ensure minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light. Eagles normally build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. The dominant chick tends to be the female, as they are bigger than the male. The parents take no action to stop the killing.[3][4] Species

Martial Eagle in Namibia.

Thermographic image of an eagle, thermoregulating using its wings.

Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi in Southern Philippines.

Wedge Tailed Eagle in Australia. Major new research into eagle taxonomy suggests that the important genera Aquila and Hieraaetus are not composed of nearest relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these genera will soon take place, with some species being moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus.[5]

Bonelli's Eagle, and the Booted Eagle have been moved from Hieraaetus to Aquila. Either the Greater Spotted Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle should move from Aquila to join the Long-crested Eagle in Lophaetus, or, perhaps better, all three of these species should move to Ictinaetus with the Black Eagle. The Steppe Eagle and Tawny Eagle, once thought to be conspecific, are not even each other's nearest relatives.

FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE Subfamily Buteoninae - hawks (buzzards), true eagles and seaeagles

Genus Geranoaetus

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Genus Harpyhaliaetus Crowned Solitary Eagle, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus Montane Solitary Eagle, H. solitarius

Genus Morphnus Crested Eagle, Morphnus guianensis

Genus Harpia Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja

Genus Pithecophaga Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi

Genus Harpyopsis Papuan Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae

Genus Oroaetus Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Oroaetus isidori

Genus Spizaetus Cassin's Hawk-Eagle, Spizaetus africanus Crested Hawk-Eagle, S. cirrhatus Mountain Hawk-Eagle, S. nipalensis Blyth's Hawk-Eagle, S. alboniger Javan Hawk-Eagle, S. bartelsi Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle, S. lanceolatus Philippine Hawk-Eagle, S. philippensis

Wallace's Hawk-Eagle, S. nanus Black Hawk-Eagle, S. tyrannus Ornate Hawk-Eagle, S. ornatus Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, S. melanoleucus

Genus Lophaetus Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis - possibly belongs in Ictinaetus

Genus Stephanoaetus Crowned Eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus

Genus Polemaetus Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus

Genus Hieraaetus Ayres' Hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii African Hawk-Eagle, H. spilogaster Little Eagle, H. morphnoides

Pygmy Eagle, H. m. weiskei

Genus Harpagornis (extinct) Haast's Eagle, Harpagornis moorei - possibly belongs in either Hieraaetus or Aquila[6]

Genus Lophotriorchis Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle, L. kienerii

A Steppe Eagle in Lahore Zoo Pakistan.

Genus Aquila

Bonelli's Eagle, Aquila fasciata - formerly Hieraaetus fasciatus Booted Eagle, A. pennata - formerly Hieraaetus pennatus Golden Eagle, A. chrysaetos Eastern Imperial Eagle, A. heliaca Spanish Imperial Eagle A. adalberti Steppe Eagle, A. nipalensis Tawny Eagle, A. rapax Greater Spotted Eagle, A. clanga - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus

Lesser Spotted Eagle, A. pomarina - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus Indian Spotted Eagle, A. hastata - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus Verreaux's Eagle, A. verreauxii Gurney's Eagle, A. gurneyi Wahlberg's Eagle, A. wahlbergi Wedge-tailed Eagle, A. audax

Genus Ictinaetus Black Eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis

Genus Haliaeetus White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla Bald Eagle, H. leucocephalus Steller's Sea Eagle, H. pelagicus African Fish Eagle, H. vocifer White-bellied Sea Eagle, H. leucogaster Sanford's Sea Eagle, H. sanfordi Madagascar Fish Eagle, H. vociferoides Pallas' Sea Eagle, H. leucoryphus

Genus Ichthyophaga Lesser Fish Eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis Grey-headed Fish Eagle, I. ichthyaetus

Short-toed Snake Eagle in flight

Subfamily Circaetinae: snake-eagles

Genus Terathopius

Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus

Genus Circaetus Short-toed Snake Eagle, Circaetus gallicus Black-chested Snake Eagle, C. pectoralis Brown Snake Eagle, C. cinereus Fasciated Snake Eagle, C. fasciolatus Western Banded Snake Eagle, C. cinerascens

Genus Spilornis


Eagles in culture The word

Crested Serpent Eagle, Spilornis cheela

Central Nicobar Serpent Eagle, S. minimus (subspecies or species)

Great Nicobar Serpent Eagle, S. klossi Mountain Serpent Eagle, S. kinabaluensis Sulawesi Serpent Eagle, S. rufipectus Philippine Serpent Eagle, S. holospilus Andaman Serpent Eagle, S. elgini

Genus Eutriorchis Madagascar Serpent Eagle, Eutriorchis astur

The modern English name of the bird is derived from the Latin term aquila by way of the French aigle. The Latin aquila may derive from the word aquilus, meaning dark-colored, swarthy, or blackish, as a description of the eagle's plumage; or from aquilo, the Latin version of Greek boreas, or north wind; however, aquilus and aquilo may just as well derive from aquila (or be unrelated) and the latter be of unknown origin. Old English used the term earn, related to Scandinavia's rn / rn. The etymology of this word relates it to Greek orns, meaning "bird", though other Indo-European languages (such as Welsh eryr or Russian orl / ) show that the meaning 'eagle' is older. The Greek word may be an old diminutive. The Albanian word for eagle is "shqiponje" deriving from the root "shqipe", which means "eagle". In Britain before 1678, eagle referred specifically to the Golden Eagle, with the other native species, the White-tailed Eagle, being known as the Erne. The modern name "Golden Eagle" for aquila chrysaetos was introduced by the naturalist John Ray.