Page 131 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Hieraaetus fasciatus
Bonelli’s Eagle

dark midwing
band dark upperparts
short head, with white patch
held high on back
pale orange-
tawny below
dark-tipped
tail
IMMATURE

streaked white
blackish band underbody
JUVENILE on dark
underwings
pale leading
edge
ADULT
dark tail
tip
long, narrow,
straight-edged
ADULT tail
IN FLIGHT

strong and potent predator, Bonelli’s Eagle combines the
Apower of a large eagle with the behaviour of a fast-flying, FLIGHT: glides on flat wings with angled leading
aggressive hawk. It spends much time perching on a ledge out edge; wingbeats shallow; soars, sometimes stoops
of sight, but periodically soars over its territory or moves off at great speed.
to find food; it hunts rather low down and is usually
inconspicuous. It is generally scarce and very localized,
with isolated pairs here and there in traditional
territories, mostly in areas with steep cliffs and crags STRIKING
between forested slopes. Only a few hundred pairs of APPEARANCE
Bonelli’s Eagle remain in Europe. In flight, Bonelli’s Eagle
VOICE Occasional bark or shrill yelp, but mostly silent. looks big and square with
quite a long tail, long
NESTING Large stick nest in small cave, deep ledge, or flat wings, and a small
sheer cliff,rarely in tree;2 eggs;1 brood;February–April. head sweeping up from
FEEDING Elegant and powerful; hunts hares, rabbits, the deep chest; the white
squirrels, partridges, crows, and pigeons. body catches the light.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Occupies forested hills and crags
GOSHAWK in Spain, Portugal, S France, and
no white patch on smaller
back; see p.139 Balkans; often nests and roosts in
deep gorges, but not especially
smaller rounder
head high up, and moves out into
nearby hills and woodland to
plainer
below BOOTED EAGLE hunt. Resident.
dark form similar
to immature; Seen in the UK
shorter wings see p.128 JF M A M J JA S ON D
Length 55–65cm (22–26in) Wingspan 1.45–1.65m (4 3 ⁄4 –5 1 ⁄2ft) Weight 1.5–2.5kg (3 1 ⁄4 –5 1 ⁄2lb)
Social Pairs/Families Lifespan Up to 15 years Status Endangered
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