Imperial Eagle
(Aquila heliaca)
Facts
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IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)
Facts about this animal
Total length from tip of the bill to the tip of the tail is 72 - 84 cm; length of wing from the folded wing to the tip of primaries: mal 55 - 61 cm, females 61 - 67 cm. Weight is from 2.45 kg to 4.53 kg. Sexual dimorphism only in size, with females being slightly larger.
Plumage of the head and upperparts are reddish brown. Crown, nape, sides of head and neck with lanceolate pale tawny buff feathers producing a pale patch. Underparts of the body are blackish brown. Some scapulars of the wings are pure white, forming a white shoulder patch. The tail is basally grey, mottled with dark brown, with a brad sub-terminal black band, tipped whitish. The legs are yellow and the bill is grey, blackish at the tip.
Did you know?
that according to studies carried out in Hungary and Slovakia, the most comm prey species of the Imperial eagle are the hamster, brown hare, suslik, feral pigeon and the introduced common pheasant?
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | AVES |
| Order | FALCONIFORMES |
| Suborder | ACCIPITRES |
| Family | ACCIPITRIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Aquila heliaca |
| Name (English) | Imperial Eagle |
| Name (French) | Aigle impérial |
| Name (German) | Kaiseradler |
| Name (Spanish) | Aguila imperial |
| Local names | Hungarian: Parlagi sas Slovakian: Orol král'ovský |
| CITES Status | Appendix I |
| CMS Status | Appendix I |
Photo Copyright by
Jan Ševčík
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Widely distributed in Eurasia and parts of Africa. Africa: Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen Europe: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary Macedonia, former Yug. Rep, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine Vagrants are found in some more countries. The Imperial eagle of the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlas region is now considered to be a separate species (Aquila adalberti). |
| Habitat | Temperate forest, shrubland, grassland, steppe and agricultural areas, wetlands (inland). Originally breeding occured on isolated trees, now often in large mountain-forests. |
| Wild population | It is a rare species. Rapid decline in Europe since the World War II. The World population is now down to a few thousand pairs (1996) (Red List IUCN 2011) |
| Zoo population | 39 reported to ISIS (2007) |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 20 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Jan Ševčík
Why do zoos keep this animal
The Imperial - or the very similar golden (Royal) - eagle is of major educational interest because it has been used by the Holy Roman Empire, founded by Charlemagne in 800 many countries as a national symbol, depicting power, beauty and independence. It is also widely used as a religious symbol and logo of organizations. Golden eagles are often used in flight shows. Zoos may also keep golden eagles for animal welfare reasons as they may accept to care for injured birds which cannot be returned to the wild. Some zoos afre involved in in situ conservation projects for this vulnerable species.
How this animal should be kept
Imperial eagles should be kept in pairs. An aviary for a pair of golden eagles must have a surface of at least 60 m² and a height of no less than 4 m. There should be an elevated, covered site for nesting and shelter and various structures, such as poles, dead trees, branches etc. for sitting. A small pool is required. The fencing of the aviary must be designed and maintained so as to minimize the risk of injuries.
Eagles feed mainly on live prey. The birds should be fed meat on the bone, and entire carcasses or parts thereof. The feed should be supplemented with vitamins and mineral salts as required.