Page 130 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Hieraaetus pennatus
Booted Eagle broad, round
head
well-fingered
wingtips
diagonal
pale bands
on wings
long tail flat or
with sharp bowed
white corners wings
spots
pale
patch
round
whitish head
crescent
on rump
dull brown
overall
BOTH FORMS
FROM ABOVE PALE FORM
white underside
DARK FORM
PALE
IN FLIGHT
FORM
FLIGHT: fast, with long glides and rather flappy
wingbeats; frequent soaring.
uch more frequent than Bonelli’s Eagle, the
MBooted Eagle is a small, buzzard-sized eagle,
frequently mobbed by crows and other birds of prey.
It occurs in pale and dark forms but its shape and
proportions help identify it. It is typical of well-
wooded, hot countryside in relatively lowland areas,
avoiding the moister northwestern parts of Europe.
Unlike the Buzzard, it is a summer visitor to Europe.
VOICE Buzzard-like hi-yaaah and loud, musical,
wader-like whistle, kli-kli-kli in display.
NESTING Bulky stick nest deep inside canopy of tree,
rarely on cliff ledge; 2 eggs; 1 brood; February–April. DISTINCTIVE PATTERN
FEEDING Catches reptiles, small birds, and small In flight overhead, the Booted Eagle shows thin, translucent trailing
mammals on ground, often after very fast, near- edges to both wings and tail, and a pale inner primary patch; head-on it
vertical stoop from considerable height. reveals bright white shoulder spots.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
In Spain, Portugal, France, and
BLACK KITE longer E Europe, in forests and warm,
see p.131 wings
bigger sunny, well-wooded, hilly country
narrower with mixed farmland and scrub,
head often close to villages. Thrives best
squarer in remote regions with little distur-
shape bance. From March to October.
notched more
tail pointed flexible BONELLI’S EAGLE Seen in the UK
at corners wings immature; see p.129 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 42–51cm (16 1 ⁄2 –20in) Wingspan 1.1–1.35m (3 1 ⁄2 –4 1 ⁄2ft) Weight 700–1,000g (25–36oz)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 15 years Status Rare
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