Eagles: description, species, habitat, what they eat, enemies and lifestyle

Where do eagles live?

The habitat of eagles is extremely vast, and each representative of this family chooses unique areas for itself. A characteristic feature for each area of residence is their distance from the location of people and their life activities. Therefore, most often birds can be seen in the mountains or in semi-open areas.

Their distribution area involves their residence in forests, tundras, steppes, desert areas of Eurasia, Africa and North America.

Eagles are able to build nests on the ground, in trees or in mountains.

Golden eagles, which live in Russia, live over a vast territory stretching from the North Caucasus to the south of Primorye. When nesting, they prefer forests that are difficult for people to access. Wedge-tailed golden eagles, which are a species of golden eagles, similarly choose to live in the forested areas of New Guinea. Steppe eagles live in the territories of steppes and semi-desert regions, which are located in the region between Transbaikalia and the Black Sea.

Often, many peoples tame golden eagles, which have proven themselves in hunting as dexterous and hardy birds.

Habitat

Eagles are found on various continents; there are quite a lot of them in Russia. The birds are large and have a very negative attitude towards the appearance of strangers in the territory they consider theirs. That is why there should be 10-100 square meters per nest. km area. They prefer open areas: steppes, savannas, and are rarely found in forests and deserts.

Where do they live?

The countries of Africa, Eurasia and North America are where the eagle lives. They prefer to settle at a considerable distance from cities and people, as well as from their fellow creatures. Golden eagles choose forest zones as their habitat, while steppe representatives are more impressed by the steppe or semi-desert. Scavengers are found in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

What do they eat?

An eagle is not an animal, but a bird of prey that obtains its food by hunting. Soaring in the air, the formidable bird looks out for game, and when it finds it, it dives down, grabs it with its sharp claws and soars up. Rodents, reptiles, snakes - this is what the eagle eats in natural conditions. However, often the bird has to make do with insects or carrion. The function of the orderly is the destruction of dead animals - this is the role the eagle plays in nature.

Gophers and gerbils are what the steppe eagle eats, but sometimes the proud bird gets only lizards, snakes and small birds.

Lifespan

From 10 to 20 years - this is how many years an eagle lives under favorable circumstances. Birds are now considered rare, which is associated with human economic activity and a reduction in the food supply. Some species are listed in the Red Book and are protected.

Unfortunately, birds rarely live to old age due to lack of food and the activities of poachers

Note! Another factor is the difficulty of reproduction. Individuals are very reluctant to mate in captivity; in addition, there are usually 1-2 eggs in a clutch; chicks appear on average once every 3-5 years.

Migratory bird or not

The description of the eagle bird makes it clear that it can be either migratory or sedentary - it all depends on its habitat. If the bird lives in northern latitudes, then with the onset of cold weather it migrates to warm countries. If the eagle’s homeland is Africa, then it leads a sedentary lifestyle and does not leave its native nest.

Kinds

The hawk family itself, which includes eagles, includes fourteen different subfamilies, including not only eagles, but also hawks, kites, etc. In the modern classification, there are about two dozen species of eagles, each of which has its own characteristics. The most notable varieties are the following.

Hawk eagle

Females of this species are larger in size than males.
Birds reach a size of about 75 cm, the wingspan is about 55 cm. The body weight of hawk eagles can reach up to 2.5 kg. Adult eagles have black plumage with brown on the back, a gray tail with a black transverse pattern. The belly area can be white with dark spots; there are also transverse stripes in the area of the legs and undertail. Young eagles have a rufous belly area with streaks that are also found near the neck and head. Their iris is also light brown, while adult birds have a yellow iris. The beak is gray-black, the claws are completely black.

Representatives of this species live in the tropics and subtropics in areas of Africa, Asia, and southern Europe. In Europe, hawk eagles are in danger of extinction due to the fact that they are constantly exterminated by people, killed on power lines or forced into migration due to changes in their habitat.

Pygmy eagle

The body sizes of representatives of this species are among the smallest - no more than 53 cm, while the wingspan is quite extensive, as it can reach up to 132 cm. The body weight of dwarf eagles is also small - about 500-1300 g. Females are larger than males, however, have the same plumage. The bird's tail is light and has no stripes. The beak is quite short, with a characteristic bend, and black. The paws are yellow, the claws are completely black.

The dwarf eagle can vary in plumage, as representatives of this species are divided into dark and light individuals. The first category has a dark brown-brown color, distributed over the entire surface of the body: from the back to the stomach. On the heads of eagles you can notice a golden or red tint. The second category has a brown back, a dirty white belly, and dark speckles in the chest area.

Representatives of this species can be seen in northwestern Africa. In Europe, dwarf eagles are found in France. Sometimes their nests can be seen in Turkey, Greece, India, Romania, etc. Birds that live in India lead a sedentary lifestyle, others belong to migratory species. For living, dwarf eagles prefer mainly deciduous forests, which are located near open areas.

Indian Hawk Eagle

Representatives of this species completely lack sexual dimorphism.
Representatives of this species can also be classified as small eagles, since their size does not exceed 60 cm. The wingspan is quite extensive - up to 140 cm. The wings of Indian hawks are rounded and quite long. Adults are characterized by black coloration on the back and sides. Their chin and throat area are white. The lower part of the body and wings are red-brown with wide dark stripes. There is a crest on the head. The beak is black, the iris of adult birds is dark brown.

Indian hawk eagles got their name due to their characteristic habitat, the Indo-Malayan zone, which includes Indochina, Malaysia, the Philippines, etc. In this area, birds prefer tropical and humid forests to live.

Stone eagle

The body size of stone eagles is considered average by the standards of representatives of this species - up to 72 cm. The wingspan range is quite extensive: from 60 to 180 cm. Males can grow up to 2 kg, females up to 2.5 kg. Stone eagles have wide wings and a rather short tail. The plumage can be dark, light or red.

Representatives of this species live in India, Nepal, Iran, western Africa, Namibia, etc. Stone eagles prefer savannah and steppe areas to live. Their nests can be located at an altitude of about 3 thousand meters above sea level.

steppe eagle

Steppe eagles in Russia are listed in the Red Book, as they are considered an endangered species.
Representatives of this species can grow up to 85 cm with a body weight of 4.8 kg. Their wingspan is at least 220 cm. Sexual dimorphism is manifested in size: females are larger than males. The color of adult individuals is dark brown, with a red spot on the back of the head. The wings are gray-brown. Young steppe eagles have a brown-ocher coloration with characteristic streaks.

Representatives of this species live on the territory of Russia in the Stavropol Territory, Astrakhan, Orenburg, Rostov regions, as well as in Asia. They are a migratory species that flies to Africa or India for the winter.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Representatives of this species are capable of reaching a size of 73 cm and weighing about 3 kg. Female Greater Spotted Eagles are larger than males. This species is distinguished by its larger size from the lesser spotted eagle, but apart from this, it is quite difficult to find external differences between them. The color of adult individuals is dark brown, the area of the back of the head and undertail is light. Young individuals have light spots on the back area that resemble drops in appearance. The beak and claws are black, the paws are yellow.

Greater spotted eagles live in Finland, Hungary, Romania, China, and Pakistan. They are also found in Russia in the Kaliningrad region.

Lesser Spotted Eagle

The size of lesser spotted eagles usually does not exceed 64 cm and weighs 1.8 kg. Their plumage is similar in appearance to Greater Spotted Eagles, but differs in lighter color. Representatives of this species live in Russia near St. Petersburg, Novgorod, and Tula. In addition, they can be found in India, Turkey, Hungary, etc.

Indian Spotted Eagle

Representatives of this species are named so due to their characteristic habitat areas. Indian spotted eagles settle not only in India, but also live in Nepal, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. Their sizes can reach 65 cm. Indian spotted eagles are strongly built individuals with a large head and short, wide wings. The color of the birds is brown.

Kaf eagle

The body size of representatives of this species can reach up to 95 cm, while the weight is around 4.5 kg. The wingspan of Kaf eagles reaches 2 meters. These birds live in Africa. To live, they choose dry areas far from people.

Moluccan eagle

Oryol Airport

In the city of Orel there is the Orel-Yuzhny airport, which was closed in 2010. The airfield was also excluded from the State Register of Civil Airfields of the Russian Federation. The distance from the city center to the airport is 6 km. The nearest international airport is in the city of Bryansk. The distance from Orel to the airport is 145 km. The airfield has the status of a federal facility.

Popular destinations of regular and charter flights: Krasnodar, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Antalya, Simferopol, Moscow, Anapa, Mineralnye Vody, Istanbul, Kaliningrad. The airport serves aircraft of major Russian airlines: S7 Airlines, Azimut, RoyalFlight, YAMAL, RusLine.

What do eagles eat?

The diet of eagles is characterized by the presence of a fairly extensive “menu”, which consists mainly of objects of animal origin. As a rule, they are quite large, although at the same time birds can eat small prey such as hares, fish, and gophers. The diet of eagles also includes domestic birds such as partridges, chickens, and pigeons. Eagles also do not disdain kingfishers and squirrels. Some species can also prey on venomous snakes.

If eagles go hungry for a long time, they can even feed on carrion found on land or in the aquatic environment.

If the hunt is successful, the eagles immediately eat the caught prey or take it to the nest to their chicks.
Immediately after eating, birds look for an opportunity to wash down their food with plenty of water. Once they're done with that, the eagles begin to preen and preen their feathers.

The diet of eagles is determined by characteristics that are directly related to their species and habitat. Both small animals and medium-sized prey can become prey. Large birds are quite capable of attacking small deer, antelope, roe deer, foxes and wolves. Eagles also often attack livestock such as cows and sheep. Eagles, which live in Australia and North and South America, eat bats, owls, and parrots.

Some eagles can even hunt in water, using diving to catch fish. They do not neglect other reptiles such as turtles or lizards.

Eagles obtain a significant portion of their food by hunting on the ground, while they catch other birds while flying. Predators circle above the ground, looking out for prey, in which their trained eyes and keen vision help them well. First, they hover in the air, and then throw themselves down like a stone, grabbing victims with strong claws. At this moment, the prey can no longer escape anywhere, and the eagles carry it to a convenient place.

Elena

Ask a Question

Question to the expert

What is the speed of an eagle's flight?

Eagles often simply soar above the ground, but even during such a soar they can reach speeds of about 200-230 km/h. At the same time, from the outside it may seem that the birds are moving quite slowly. This illusion is due to the altitude at which the flight takes place. Eagles can enter a dive at speeds of more than 300 km/h.

Features of character and lifestyle

Eagles are among the monogamous birds that choose a partner once and for life. This determines their distribution patterns: birds often live exclusively in pairs. Eagles can even go out in pairs to hunt.

During their circling in the sky, they not only look out for possible prey, but also monitor the state of their territory, noting whether there are enemies nearby.

At the same time, eagles do not need to hunt every day, since they are able to store food in their crops for several days.

Although the traditional method of hunting for eagles is to soar high, they are also capable of ambushing their prey. Most often they hide in spreading branches of trees, from where they subsequently attack. The eagles deal with each victim in their own way.

Eagles do not hunt for as long as other birds of prey. They devote most of the day to observing their territory, studying everything that happens around them. The ability to preserve food helps them reduce their hunting time.

Automobile highways

Federal highways pass through Orel:

M2 "Crimea" is a highway that has the status of an object of federal significance. It is part of the European route E105. The total length of the route is 720 km. The road originates in Moscow and passes through Tula, Belgorod, Orel, Kursk. The final point of the M-2 route is the state border with Ukraine. The road surface of the route is concrete and asphalt.
P120 is a public highway of federal significance, the total length of which is 445 km. The route begins in the city of Orel and passes through Rudnya, Bryansk, Smolensk. The final point of the road is the state border with Belarus. The road surface of the route is concrete and asphalt.
P119 is a federal highway with a total length of 395 km. The route starts in Orel and passes through Lipetsk, Livny, Yelets. The final point of the route is the M6 Caspian highway, Tambov region. The road surface is asphalt.
P92 is a federal highway with a total length of 206 km. The highway passes through the following regions of Russia: Oryol region, Kaluga region, Tula region. The road surface of the route is gravel, asphalt.
E105 is a European route that starts in the Norwegian city of Kirkenes and passes through Tver, Moscow, Petrozavodsk, St. Petersburg, Kharkov, Tula, Simferopol, Kursk, Belgorod, Veliky Novgorod, Zaporozhye. The final point of the European route E105 is Yalta.

Reproduction of eagles

Birds reach sexual maturity only in the fifth year of life. Young individuals who have never entered into a mating relationship can travel considerable distances in search of a suitable partner. After finding their soul mate, the birds begin building a nest and organizing a sedentary lifestyle.

The mating season among eagles is accompanied by exciting and spectacular games, during which the male and female chase each other. Mating games take place exclusively in the air, where birds chase each other, drawing complex aerial figures.

Based on the specific type of predator, an eagle's nest can be seen on a bush, on a tree, on rocks or in the mountains. Both partners are usually involved in arranging the nest, but ornithologists believe that females work more on this. If males create a frame, then females improve the place where chicks will appear in the future. After construction, the nest turns out to be solid and reliable. If it survives the first year of use, birds can continue to use it for several years.

Sometimes eagles can seize nests that were already built by similar large birds, for example, crows or falcons. This rule is valid if the nest size is suitable for the eagles.

Oryol bus stations

The bus station in Orel is located at st. Avtovokzalnaya, 1. The bus station building is located opposite the Sovremennik cinema. The bus station's operating hours are from 5:30 to 22:30, every day, without breaks. In the bus station building, passengers have access to a storage room for luggage and personal belongings, a spacious waiting room, a cafe, and a medical center.

Popular routes of regular buses: Baklanovo, Belgorod, Bashkatovo, Voronezh, Golokhvastovo, Dmitrovsk, Zheleznogorsk, Zalegoshch, Kaluga, Kiev, Krasnaya Zarya, Krivoy Rog, Krasnaya Roshcha, Lavrovo, Livny, Lipetsk, Mikhailovka, Moscow, Mokhovoye, Novodmitrovka, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tambov, Tula.