Ecology
Basics:
Bald eagles are one of the largest birds of prey native to North America. Their wingspan is up to 2 meters. They are only inferior in size California condors and are the same size as golden eagles .
These royal birds, as their name suggests, have heads covered in white feathers and the rest of their body is chocolate brown. The birds' legs and beaks are bright yellow. Young birds generally have dark heads and tails, and wings and the entire body may have feathers of different colors - brown and white. Only by the age of 5 do eagles acquire a characteristic coloration, having reached “adulthood”.
Young eagles leave the nest within 12 weeks of birth. They are monogamous birds and find partners for life.
Adults weigh from 3.6 to 6.4 kilograms. The female bald eagle is slightly larger and heavier than the male. Eagles live quite a long time - on average 28 years in the wild, in captivity - 36 years.
The calls of bald eagles consist of a faint whistle, which is rougher and shriller in young birds. Birds call during mating season, or to warn each other of danger.
Eagles have excellent eyesight, and the special arrangement of their eyes gives them excellent binocular vision, as well as peripheral vision.
Eagles fly quickly and can reach speeds of 56 kilometers per hour at a normal pace, but when chasing prey they can fly at speeds of 120-160 kilometers per hour. The birds hunt together: one eagle scares the prey, and the other grabs it with its sharp long talons.
Bald eagles' favorite food is fish, but they often feed on other birds, such as ducks, as well as muskrats and sometimes turtles. They are also not averse to eating carrion and can take prey from other birds of prey. The eagle's sharp beak helps it easily tear its prey into pieces.
The bald eagle's closest relative is Screamer Eagle ( Haliaeetus vocifer) , native to sub-Saharan Africa, and White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), which is found in Eurasia.
Habitats:
Bald eagles live exclusively in North America, along the coasts of oceans and lakes from Baja California and Florida in the south to the island of Newfoundland and Alaska in the north. They can mainly be found near bodies of water, along rivers, the ocean coast, near lakes, reservoirs and swamps. During the migration season, eagles fly long distances and can be seen in the mountains and plains. Bald eagle populations from northern and central North America migrate to open water during the winter.
Bald eagles breed mostly in Alaska, where they are most abundant, in Canada, the Pacific Northwest, the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, around the Great Lakes, and other areas where water and food are plentiful. The birds winter along the coast of the United States, some of them even reach northwestern Mexico.
Security status: Least Concern
By the time the bald eagle was declared a symbol of the United States in the 18th century, there were between 25 and 75 thousand of these birds in the wild in 48 states.
The population was in steep decline due to habitat destruction, hunting and the use of the poison DDT in the fields, which made the eggshells too thin, causing them to break prematurely. The use of DDT was banned only in 1972. In 1967, the bald eagle was listed in the Red Book, when only 417 breeding pairs remained, according to researchers' estimates.
17 years after bald eagles were declared endangered, their population has increased significantly, more than 10 times what it was in 1963. In 2007, these birds were excluded from the Red Book. They continue to be protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, but poachers continue to kill the birds and the eagles continue to lose their habitat.
Interesting facts:
-- The bald eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782, and it has long been considered a spiritual symbol by local people.
Bald eagles build the largest nests of any North American bird - a nest can be about 4 meters high, 2.5 meters wide, and weigh 1.1 tons.
The eagle may chase a hunting hawk until the smaller predator releases the prey, which the eagle then catches in the air. Sometimes eagles brazenly steal fish caught by hawks right from their talons. The eagle can also steal prey from some fishing mammals and even from humans.
In some North American cultures, bald eagles were considered sacred birds, like golden eagles, and they were central figures in many religious and spiritual traditions among the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Some Indians believed that eagles were spiritual messengers between the gods and man.
It lives mainly in Canada and the USA, in some places penetrating into the northern states of Mexico. In addition to the listed countries, the bird also nests on the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. The distribution is extremely uneven; the highest concentration of nesting sites is observed on sea coasts and near large rivers and lakes. In the west of its range, the eagle willingly settles along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Oregon, as well as on the Aleutian Islands. There are consistently high numbers of bald eagles in the Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. In the eastern United States, birds are most abundant in Florida (the second largest population after Alaska), on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and in the Great Lakes region. Small populations have been recorded in Baja California, Arizona, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Vermont. In Canada, the bird is absent only in the Arctic latitudes north of the Anderson River Valley and the middle part of the western coast of Hudson Bay. Occasional occurrences have been reported in Bermuda, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Belize and Ireland.
The bald eagle's habitat is always associated with a large body of water - an ocean, an estuary, a large lake or a wide stretch of river. In inland waters, the length of the coastline must be at least 11 km; the smallest area of open water surface recorded for a breeding pair was 8 ha. When choosing a body of water, the abundance of varied and accessible game on it is very important - the more there is, the higher the density of settlements. The eagle, as a rule, rests and nests in mature forest with a predominance of coniferous and hardwood trees. For perching and building a nest, it uses a strong, often dominant, tree with an open crown and good visibility. During the breeding season, it avoids cultivated landscapes and generally places actively visited by people, even if there is a favorable food supply nearby. The size of the feeding area varies throughout, with known figures ranging from 2.6 km 2 in the Upper Klamath Lake region in Oregon to about 648 km 2 in Arizona.
Migration patterns depend on several factors, including climatic conditions, food availability, location of the nesting site and the age of the individual. If the surface of a reservoir is completely covered with ice, then all the eagles living on it leave the area and move to the sea coasts or south to latitudes with a warmer climate. On the other hand, when food conditions allow (for example, on sea coasts), at least some of the adult individuals remain to winter within the nesting area.
The total body length reaches 70-120 cm, wingspan 180-230 cm, weight 3-6.3 kg. Females are about a quarter more massive than males. Birds distributed on the northern periphery of their range are significantly larger in size compared to birds living in the southern part of their range. The beak is large, hook-shaped, and in an adult bird it is colored golden-yellow. Characteristic growths on the superciliary arches of the skull, which gives the bird a frowning expression. The legs are the same color as the beak, without signs of feathering. Fingers up to 15 cm long, strong, with sharp claws. The bird holds the prey with its front fingers, while with its well-developed rear claw it pierces its vital organs. The tarsus, unlike eagles, is completely exposed. Rainbow is yellow. The wings are wide and rounded; tail of medium length, wedge-shaped. The eagle acquires its final plumage only at the beginning of its sixth year of life. From this age, birds stand out with a white head and tail against a contrasting dark brown, almost black background of the rest of the plumage. The flight is uniform, leisurely, with rare flapping of the wings. When soaring, the wide wings are placed at right angles to the body, and the head is extended forward.
Despite its menacing appearance, the bald eagle has a relatively weak voice. Most often you can hear a high-pitched squeal or whistle, transmitted as “kwik-kik-kik-kik”. In addition to the high-pitched squawk, there is also a low-pitched chirp, which is expressed as “how-how-how-how-how.” Young birds have a harsher, rougher voice. Vocalization most often appears during the “changing of the guard” at the nest, as well as in places where birds gather in large numbers during the winter.
Like other eagles, the bald eagles feed primarily on fish, although they also hunt small game. On occasion, it willingly takes food from other predators or eats carrion. A comparative analysis of 20 studies in different parts of the range showed that the average diet consists of 56% fish (pink salmon, coho salmon, sockeye salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific sand lance, large-lipped chukuchang, American shad, carp, dorosoma, various catfish, trout, mullet, eel , pike, etc.), 28% from birds (grebes, guillemots, ducks, geese, gulls, coots, herons), 14% from mammals (hares, rabbits, squirrels, gophers, rats, raccoons, muskrats, young beavers), 2% from other groups of animals (water snakes, turtles, amphibians and crustaceans). This ratio varies according to the territorial and seasonal availability of a particular feed.
Usually the eagle hunts in shallow water, where fish accumulate near the surface of the reservoir. The main method of obtaining food is similar to the hunting skills of an osprey - the eagle notices the victim from a height, falls down like a stone and grabs it with sharp claws, while the main feather cover remains dry. The speed of a diving flight is 120-160 km/h, a normal flapping flight is 56-70 km/h. Less often, the bird wanders through the water and pecks the fry swimming past. Compared to the osprey, the eagle specializes in larger prey and is unable to grab small fish with its powerful talons. The weight of the load it holds usually varies from 1 to 3 kg. Too heavy a load can plunge the predator into the water, in which case the bird successfully swims to the shore, unless it dies from hypothermia in the icy water. Sometimes cooperative hunting is observed, when one of the birds of a pair distracts the prey, and the other attacks it from the rear. This method of obtaining food is more typical for large ground game, such as a hare or heron. Eagles can catch feathered prey in the air, although more often they capture it by surprise on land or water. When catching geese, a predator can fly up from below, turn over in the air and cling to the victim’s chest with its claws. A different technique is used with diving ducks: the bird circles the potential prey, forcing it to hide under water. After several dives, the weakened bird becomes easy prey for a predator. Having carried the prey to a sandbank or tree, the bird begins to eat, pressing it against a support with one leg and pinching off pieces with the other. Often others try to join one feeding bird, so an eagle that has caught prey tends to quickly retire somewhere in a secluded place. Up to one kilogram of food can be stored in the crop for some time, so that the bird does not experience hunger for several days.
Like the vast majority of hawks, bald eagles are typically monogamous, with each male mating with one female. It is traditionally believed that partners remain “maritally” faithful throughout their lives. However, this is not entirely true: if one of the birds does not return to the nesting site after wintering, the second one looks for a new partner. A couple also breaks up if they are unable to reproduce jointly. Pairs form both within the breeding area and in wintering grounds. Mating behavior is especially evident in the demonstrative flight of both birds, during which they chase each other, make deep dives and turn upside down.
Nest construction begins in Florida in late September and early October, in Ohio and Pennsylvania in February, in Alaska in January, but in any case much earlier than most raptors in the same area. It is a giant armful of branches and twigs, most often located in the crown of a tall living tree with the possibility of free access, no more than a couple of kilometers from open water. Sources say the eagle's nest is the largest of any bird in North America. It can often reach 2.5 m in diameter, 4 m in height and weigh about a ton. Taking into account the addition of fresh material, the nest becomes heavier every year and can break off the branches holding it, as well as collapse in a strong gust of wind. However, nests have been known to be used for decades. In exceptional cases, when there is no woody vegetation in the breeding area, such as on Amchitka Island (Aleutian Islands), the nest can be built on a rocky ledge or other place inaccessible to terrestrial predators. In the Sonoran Desert, where trees are also a rarity, eagles nested on top of a giant cactus. The main branch frame is held together with grass, corn stalks, dried seaweed and other similar material. Both parents take part in the construction, which can take from several days to 3 months, but the female is primarily involved in laying out the branches. Although the main construction occurs before the laying of eggs, later both birds of the pair further strengthen the finished structure. In addition to the main nest, within the same area there may be one or more spare ones, which the birds use from time to time, in particular after the death of the initial clutch.
Eggs are laid 1-3 months after the start of nest construction. A full clutch usually contains 1-3 (usually 2) eggs, laid at intervals of a day or two. If for any reason the original clutch is lost, the female is able to lay again. The eggs are matte white, without a pattern, and have a wide oval shape. Their dimensions are 58-85 x 47-63 mm. The size and weight of eggs tends to increase from south to north in accordance with the size of the birds themselves. Incubation duration is about 35 days. The female incubates and also feeds the offspring, mainly the female; the male only replaces her from time to time. The main task of the male is to obtain food. The chicks are born in the same order that the eggs were laid, so they differ markedly from each other in size. The hatched chicks are covered with down and helpless; For the first two to three weeks, one of the parents is constantly in the nest - mainly the female, while the male is engaged in foraging or collecting material for the nest. Chicks compete with each other for access to food, and often the younger ones die of starvation. At the fifth or sixth week, the parents leave the nest and are usually located nearby on a branch. By the end of this period, the chicks learn to tear pieces of food and jump from branch to branch; after 10-12.5 weeks they make their first flight. In about half of the chicks, the first attempt to rise into the air is unsuccessful and they fall to the ground, where they spend time up to several weeks. Having learned to fly, the chicks spend another 2-11 weeks near their parents before becoming completely independent and dispersing. Approximately half of the eagles manage to reproduce a second brood within a year.
Steller's sea eagle
Steller's Sea Eagle
(Haliaeetus pelagicus)
Distributed on the Kamchatka Peninsula and along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Inhabits the southern part of the Koryak Highlands (up to the middle reaches of the Apuki River), the valley of the Penzhina River, and Karaginsky Island. It is found in the lower reaches of the Amur, northern Sakhalin, the Shantar and Kuril Islands, as well as in Korea. Sometimes the Steller's sea eagle flies to Northwest America, Japan and Northern China. Outside the territory of Russia, the Steller's sea eagle is found only during winter migrations. Winters along the coasts of the seas, less often in the taiga in the south of the Far East and in Japan, gathering in groups of 2-3 birds. Inhabits lower river valleys with tall forests, rocky sea coasts, and the shores of large lakes. The presence of reservoirs with accessible fish, primarily salmon, is a decisive factor in the habitat of Steller's sea eagles.
The total length of the bird is 85-105 cm, wingspan 195-250 cm, weight 7.5-9 kg. In adult birds, the color consists of a combination of dark brown and white (but there is also a single-color dark brown variation). The forehead, lower leg plumage, lesser and middle wing coverts, as well as tail feathers are white, the rest of the plumage is dark brown. Juveniles in the first year of life are brown with white feather bases and ocher streaks. Males and females are colored identically, and the final plumage is donned at the age of three. The iris is light brown, the massive beak is yellowish-brown, the wax and paws are yellow, the claws are black.
The basis of the diet is salmon. In addition, they attack young seals, birds (grouse, ptarmigan, ducks, gulls), mammals (hares, arctic fox, ermine, sable), marine invertebrates (bivalves, cephalopods, crabs), eat carrion and sea waste. When salmon begin their spawning run, most Steller's sea eagles eat them, not only live fish, but also dead, spawned ones, and often prefer them. Most often, Steller's sea eagles lie in wait for prey from tall trees or rocky ledges at an altitude of 5-30 m. They can hunt while hovering in the air at a height of 6-7 m above the water. Sometimes they grab fish with their claws while standing in shallow water on a sandbank.
These are monogamous birds. Mating pairs are formed at the age of more than 4 years; at this time, eagles can build a ritual nest in the fall, in which they do not nest. Mating games begin in March. Mating occurs on the nest. The nest is a huge structure made of massive and heavy branches on the top of a tree or on the upper surface of rocks, often overgrown with grass. Typically nests are built in large, mature trees, often with dead tops. One nest is used for 5-8 years. Many pairs have two nests (located no more than 900 m apart from each other), which they occupy from time to time. Nests that are repaired annually grow in size and reach 3 m in diameter and 2 m in height. Eggs are laid in April - May, when the snow has not yet melted. The clutch contains 1-3 white eggs with a greenish tint; incubation lasts 34-36 days. Incubation begins with the first egg. The chicks appear in May-June and stay in the nest for 2-2.5 months, flying out at the end of July-August, rarely in September. Parents feed the chicks with fish 20-30 cm long, bringing it to the nest 2-3 times a day. Until mid-October, the young stay 2-3 km from the nesting site. Steller's eagles begin to breed at the age of no earlier than 7 years.
White-bellied sea eagle
White-bellied Sea Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucogaster)
Inhabits the sea coasts of India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania. This is usually a sedentary bird; some individuals live in one place throughout the year, but others migrate.
The head, chest, wing coverts and tail of an adult eagle are white. The upper parts of the body are gray. Under the wing, the black flight feathers contrast well with the white coverts. The tail is short and wedge-shaped, like all eagles. The beak and iris are dark, the wax is bluish, the legs are pale yellow or gray. The young bird is brownish. Males and females are similar in color, but the female is slightly larger. The body length of the male is 66-80 cm, with a weight of 1.8-3 kg. The female's body length is 80-90 cm, with a weight of 2.5-4.5 kg.
These birds are often seen perched high in trees or soaring over bodies of water and land alone or in pairs. Small groups of white-bellied sea eagles sometimes congregate where there is an abundant food source. The flight is more maneuverable than that of other eagles, capable of catching birds and flying foxes in the air. It feeds mainly on fish, sea turtles and snakes, hunts small penguins, coots, petrels and mammals, and also eats carrion that it finds along the coastline. They often take food from other smaller birds of prey.
The breeding season is highly dependent on habitat, usually during the dry season. These are monogamous birds: the pair remains together until one of the partners dies. Then the second one finds a new one. This results in some nesting sites being continuously occupied for many years. Nests are made on rock ledges or in tall trees, and sometimes the nests of other birds of prey are used. The nest site is chosen in such a way that there is a good view of the surrounding area. The nest is a platform of dry branches with a deep tray lined with grass or seaweed. Every year the couple repairs the nest, which is why it grows over time. Construction or renovation takes 3 to 6 weeks. There are usually 2 white eggs in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 6 weeks, during which time the male brings her food. The chicks fledge at 70-80 days, but remain with their parents for up to 6 months or until the next breeding season.
Sanford's eagle
Sanford's Sea Eagle
(Haliaeetus sanfordi)
Inhabits the Solomon Islands, which are located in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia. Inhabits lowland and mountain forests along the coastline at altitudes up to 1500 m above sea level.
The chest and belly are reddish brown, the upperparts are darker, the head and neck are light brown, and the tail is dark brown. Body length is 70-90 cm, wingspan is 165-185 cm, body weight of males is 1.1-1.9 kg, females - 1.3-2.7 kg.
It feeds on fish, shellfish, sea turtles and snakes, carrion washed ashore, and sometimes hunts birds and flying foxes.
The breeding season lasts from August to October. There are usually 2 eggs in a clutch.
Screamer Eagle
African Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus vocifer)
Distributed in sub-Saharan Africa at altitudes up to 1000 m above sea level. Inhabits tropical forests, grasslands, wetlands, fynbos and even desert regions near freshwater lakes, reservoirs and rivers, sometimes found near the coast in estuaries or lagoons.
These are medium-sized eagles, their length ranges from 63 to 57 cm, wingspan - from 175 to 210 cm. Males weigh from 2 to 2.5 kg, while females weigh from 3.2 to 3.6 kg. The head, neck, upper chest and back, and tail are colored white, while the rest of the body is chestnut or gray. The feathers on the tips of the wings are black. The beak is yellow with a black tip, the paws are also light yellow.
Screamer eagles can often be seen in the crowns of tall trees, from which they survey their range. The habitats often cover the bed of a river or the shore of a large body of water. Screamer eagles make two distinct, distinctive calls that are unlike any other bird species. As a rule, these birds call in pairs, the female has a more shrill cry. It is typical to throw your head back when screaming in a sitting position.
It feeds mainly on fish, and less often hunts small flamingos, ibises, storks and other aquatic birds. Sometimes their prey may include small turtles, small crocodiles, toads, sea snakes or carrion. Screamer eagles fly very skillfully and often take prey from other birds. They wait a long time at the top of the tree for the moment when a fish appears at the surface, and in a diving flight they grab it, eating it on the tree. They cannot lift prey that weighs more than 1.5 kg and eat it on the shore.
The breeding season occurs during the dry period when water levels in reservoirs are low. Screamer eagles are monogamous birds. Nests are built on a tall tree near water. Dry branches are used as building material. The nests are used for many years and are repaired every year, so the nest is constantly growing and can reach 2 m in diameter and 1.5 m in depth. The female lays one to three white eggs with several reddish spots. The female incubates predominantly for 42-45 days. 70-75 days after birth, the chicks begin to fly; after another eight weeks, they begin to obtain food on their own. Puberty occurs at the age of four years.
Madagascar screaming eagle
Madagascar Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus vociferoides)
It lives in dry deciduous forests along the western coast of the island of Madagascar. Always stays near bodies of water at an altitude of up to 1200 m above sea level.
The body length is 60-66 cm, the wingspan is 165-180 cm, the body weight of males is 2.2-2.6 kg, females - 2.8-3.5 kg. The general color is dark brown with red streaks, the head is pale brown, the cheeks and throat are white, and the short tail is white. The beak is black, the legs are pale gray.
Often sits on a tall tree or flies over the water, looking for prey. It feeds mainly on fish, sometimes crabs, sea turtles, aquatic birds, and also takes prey from other birds of prey.
Stay in pairs. The breeding season lasts from May to October. Nests are built in the fork of a tall tree or on a rock ledge. There are usually 2 eggs in a clutch. The incubation period lasts 37-43 days. Both parents incubate, but predominantly the female. The chicks leave the nest after 78-89 days.
Long-tailed eagle
Pallas's Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucoryphus)
Distributed from Kazakhstan, southern Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan east to Mongolia and China and south to Northern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma. Northern populations migrate south to northern India for the winter. It lives near large lakes and rivers, both in lowlands and at altitudes up to 5000 m above sea level.
The long-tailed eagle has a bright brown hood and white face, dark brown wings and a rufous back. The tail is black with a characteristic white stripe. Young birds are completely dark and have no tail stripe. The bird reaches a length of 72-84 cm and a wingspan of 180-205 cm. The weight of females is 2.1-3.7 kg, males - 2-3.3 kg.
It feeds mainly on large freshwater fish, sometimes eating frogs, turtles, reptiles, waterfowl and their chicks, and carrion. Often takes fish from other birds of prey. There is enough prey from the surface of the water.
The breeding season in the north of the range begins in March, and in the south in early November. Both parents build nests on the top of a tall tree growing near a pond. The nest is a large platform of dry branches, lined with dry grass. There are 1-3 eggs in the clutch, which incubate for 40-45 days. The last chick to hatch always dies.
White-tailed eagle
White-tailed Eagle
(Haliaeetus albicilla)
It is a widespread bird that breeds in Asia from the tundra to Japan, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Northern Iran and Turkey; in Europe from the north of Scandinavia to Romania, Hungary, the Balkans and the coasts of the Baltic Sea; in Corsica and Sardinia; in the Hebrides and Shetland Islands; in Iceland and southwest Greenland. In winter, some birds, especially young ones, migrate south to Pakistan, China and Northern India. The white-tailed eagle most often settles along the shores of large lakes and rivers, and in some areas it is found on the sea coast.
The body length of the white-tailed eagle is from 70 to 90 cm, the wingspan is from 200 to 230 cm. Females are significantly larger in size and weight than males. The female's body weight is 4-7 kg, the male's is 3-5.4 kg. The tail is short, wedge-shaped. The plumage of an adult is brown, the head and neck are yellowish, and the tail is white. The beak is light yellow in color compared to other birds of prey, quite large and powerful. The iris of the eye is also light yellow. The white-tailed eagle's feet are not covered with feathers right down to the toes. Juveniles are dark brown in color, the beak is dark gray. With each molt, young white-tailed eagles become more and more similar to adult animals, and at the age of five, the white-tailed eagle completely acquires an adult appearance. In flight, the bird holds its wide wings horizontally.
Since the white-tailed eagle prefers to live near bodies of water, its menu is mainly fish-based. It hunts by flying above the surface of the reservoir, and as soon as it notices a fish, it quickly descends, and can even plunge into the water for a short time to dig into its prey with its strong claws. It also feeds on waterfowl, including geese, loons and large ducks. It also eats mammals - hares, marmots, gophers, etc. Sometimes it feeds on carrion, especially in winter.
The bird tries to build its nest higher from the ground, mainly in trees, less often on rocks. It is built from large branches and is solid: it has been used for many years. Over time, the building reaches gigantic proportions, which is why it is sometimes overturned by the wind and, breaking tree branches, falls to the ground. In this case, the male and female build a new nest. Pairs form for life; if a partner dies, a replacement is quickly found. The white-tailed eagle is ready to reproduce offspring only after reaching the age of four. The female begins laying eggs from the end of February and, depending on the habitat, laying can continue until mid-May. The clutch contains from 1 to 3 white eggs, sometimes speckled with ocher spots. For 35-40 days, both partners alternate incubation. After the chicks hatch, they do not leave the nest for about two months. However, even after the young begin to fly and hunt on their own, for some time they prefer to stay close to the nest and their parents, who periodically feed them.
Lesser Fishing Eagle
Lesser Fish Eagle
(Ichthyophaga humilis)
Distributed in Southeast Asia: from Northeast India (the foothills of the Himalayas) east to the Indochina Peninsula and Indonesia, there is a separate population in the south of India in the state of Karnataka. Lives near various bodies of water: rivers, lakes, swamps. Prefers mountain streams or bodies of water with fast currents. It lives at altitudes of up to 2400 m above sea level, although it is most often found below 1000 m.
This is a medium-sized bird, up to 64 cm long and a wingspan of about 1.2 m. The general body color is gray-brown, the thighs and belly are white. The wings are wide, the tail is short and rounded, the head is small, and the neck is long. The eyes of adults are yellow, the cere is gray. The legs are short and pale bluish in color.
The diet consists almost entirely of fish. It looks out for prey while sitting on a rock or tree branch hanging over the water. Seeing the victim, it quickly rushes down and grabs it from the surface of the water with its sharp claws.
In Northern India and Nepal, the breeding season begins in March and ends in August, in other regions it begins in November and ends in April. The nest is constructed from dry branches and green leaves; it can reach 1 m in diameter and 1.5 m in depth. There are from 2 to 4 eggs in a clutch.
Fishing eagle
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
(Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus)
Widely distributed from India and Southeast Asia to Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It lives in tropical forests at altitudes up to 1500 m above sea level. Breeds near slow-moving rivers and streams, lakes, lagoons, reservoirs, swamps and estuaries.
Body length is 61-75 cm, wingspan is 155-170 cm, tail length is 23-28 cm, the female weighs 2.3-2.7 kg, while the male weighs about 1.6 kg. The head is relatively small, the neck is long, the tail is short and round, the paws are short with long claws. The general body color is gray-brown, the head is pale gray, the chest is light brown, the upper body is dark brown, the belly and tail are white, and there is a wide black stripe on the tail.
These eagles live alone or in pairs. He flies reluctantly, the flight is difficult. He spends most of his time sitting on trees hanging over the water and looking out for prey. The victim is grabbed from the surface of the water with sharp claws. It can also hunt while standing in whitewater streams in rapid sections of rivers. The diet is based on live fish, sometimes it eats dead fish, and less often it feeds on reptiles, aquatic birds and small mammals.
The breeding season across most of its range occurs from November to May. It builds large nests with a diameter of 1.5 m and a depth of up to 2 m in the open crowns of tall trees; the tray is lined with green leaves. There are 2-4 white eggs in the clutch. The incubation period lasts 45-50 days. The chicks fledge at 70 days.
Speaking about birds of prey, one cannot help but admire their strength, speed, agility and keen eyesight. They soar in the sky above forests, fields, rivers, lakes and seas, striking with their size and power. In addition to appearance, these birds have many advantages, and today we’ll talk in more detail about one of the representatives of the hawks - eagle.
Appearance of an eagle
Orlan belongs to the subfamily of buzzards, translated from Greek, its name means sea. Like all representatives of the species, eagle a large bird with a body length of 75-100 centimeters, wingspan up to 2.5 meters and weighing 3-7 kg.
It is noteworthy that the “northern” species are larger than the “southern” ones. Tail and eagle wings wide. The birds have strong legs with sharp curved claws; the long (about 15 cm) fingers have small projections to make it more convenient to hold prey, especially slippery fish.
The tarsus is naked, without feathers. The massive beak is curved and yellow. Superciliary arches protrude above the keen eyes of yellow color, because of which it seems that the bird is frowning.
Pictured is a white-tailed eagle
The color of the plumage is predominantly brown; white inserts are located differently in different species. The head, shoulders, body or tail may be white. Sexual dimorphism is not very pronounced; in a pair, the female can be distinguished by its larger size.
Eagle Habitat
These birds of prey are quite widespread, almost everywhere except Antarctica and South America. 4 species of eagles are found in Russia. The most common is the white-tailed eagle, which lives almost everywhere where there are fresh or salt water bodies.
The steppe species, living mainly from the Caspian Sea to Transbaikalia, include the long-tailed eagle. Steller's sea eagle found mainly on the Pacific coast.
Pictured is a Steller's sea eagle
Bald Eagle lives in North America, sometimes flying to the Pacific coast, it is considered symbol USA and is depicted on the coat of arms and other state signs.
Pictured is a bald eagle
The screaming eagle lives in southern Africa and is the national bird of some countries there. The largest habitats are located in the lower reaches of the Volga and in the Far East, since these places are rich in fish - the main food of these predators.
All eagles settle near large bodies of water, on the shores of seas, estuaries, rivers, and lakes. They try not to fly into the very depths of the land. They rarely migrate, but if the reservoirs in which they get food freeze, the birds fly closer to the south for the winter.
Each pair has its own territory, which they occupy for years. Usually this is at least 10 hectares of water surface. On their section of the coast they build a nest, live, feed and raise chicks. Eagles usually spend their resting hours in mixed forest.
Pictured is a screaming eagle
Character and lifestyle of the eagle
They lead a diurnal lifestyle, hunting and going about their business during daylight hours. In flight, three main types of behavior can be distinguished - soaring, active flight and diving.
In order to fly around its territory and look out for potential prey, it uses soaring flight, gliding along convective (rising) air currents holding its wide wings.
When an eagle notices prey, it can quickly approach it, actively flapping its wings and reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h. These large birds do not dive often, but if desired, falling from a height, they reach speeds of up to 100 km/h.
If the hunting area is not too large, the eagle chooses a convenient viewing platform and surveys the surrounding area, looking for prey.
Eagle feeding
Judging by the territory that eagles choose to live in, it is not difficult to assume that bodies of water are the main sources of their food. Birds of prey feed on fish and waterfowl.
They give preference to large fish weighing about 2-3 kg, such as coho salmon, pink salmon, carp, sockeye salmon, various Pacific herring, mullet.
This is due not only to a good appetite, but also to the fact that the eagle cannot hold smaller fish with its long claws. The predator also feeds on birds that live near bodies of water - , , , , .
Small mammals are also included in the menu, these are , , , . The eagle can also catch various crustaceans and others, but they interest him in much smaller quantities.
Carrion is also suitable for food; birds will not disdain fish and the corpses of various animals washed ashore. Moreover, as a large predator, the eagle considers it not shameful to take prey from smaller and weaker hunters, or even steal from its own unwary brothers.
The eagle prefers to hunt in shallow water, in places where there are the most fish and it is not difficult to get them. Having noticed the victim, the bird falls down like a stone, grabs the prey and rises into the air with it.
Feathers do not get wet during such a hunt. Sometimes a predator simply walks on the water, pecking at small fish from there. But more often the prey is quite large; the eagle is able to hold a weight of up to 3 kg.
If the weight turns out to be too heavy, the predator can swim with it to the shore, where it will have a safe lunch. Sometimes a pair of eagles hunt together, especially larger and faster mammals and birds.
One of the predators distracts the prey, and the second unexpectedly attacks. The eagle can catch smaller birds right in the air. If the prey is large, the predator tries to fly up to it from below and, turning over, pierce the chest with its claws.
The eagle forces waterfowl to dive by circling over them and scaring them. When the duck gets tired and weak, it will be easy to catch and drag it ashore. During a meal, the eagle presses food to tree branches or to the ground with one leg, and tears off pieces of meat with the other and its beak.
Usually, if there are several around, then the more successful hunter tries to retire, because his hungry ones may well force him to share. Large prey lasts a long time for an eagle; about one kilogram of food can remain in the crop, providing the bird with food for several days.
Reproduction and lifespan of an eagle
Like other birds of this species, eagles are monogamous. But if one dies, the second finds a replacement. The same thing happens if the “family” turns out to be unable to produce offspring.
A pair is formed at a young age; this can happen both in the spring and during the winter. The breeding season begins in March-April. Eagles in love circle in the sky, locking talons and diving sharply.
The photo shows a white-tailed eagle's nest
Having tuned in to the right mood, future parents begin to build a nest, or, if the couple is old, restore last year’s nest. The male provides the female with building materials, which she lays.
Eagles nest very large, usually about a meter in diameter and up to a ton in weight. Birds place such a heavy structure on an old, dry tree, or on a separate rock. The main thing is that the support can withstand, and various land predators cannot reach the eggs and chicks.
After 1-3 days, the female lays 1-3 white, dull eggs. The clutch is incubated by the expectant mother for 34-38 days. The hatched babies are completely helpless, and their parents feed them with thin fibers of meat and fish.
Pictured are eagle chicks
Usually only the strongest chick survives. After 3 months, the young begin to fly out of the nest, but for another 1-2 months they stay close to their parents. Only by the age of 4 years do eagles become sexually mature. But this is normal, considering that these birds live for about 20 years.
Indians honor the bald eagle as a divine bird, calling it a mediator between people and the Great Spirit who created the Universe. Legends are composed in his honor and rituals are dedicated, depicted on helmets, pillars, shields, clothes and utensils. The symbol of the Iroquois tribe is an eagle perched on a pine tree.
Appearance, description of the eagle
The world learned about the bald eagle in 1766 from the scientific work of Carl Linnaeus. The naturalist gave the bird the Latin name Falco leucocephalus, assigning it to the falcon family.
The French biologist Jules Savigny disagreed with the Swede, in 1809 he included the bald eagle in the genus Haliaeetus, which previously consisted only of the white-tailed eagle.
There are now two known subspecies of sea eagle, distinguished solely by size. This is one of the most representative birds of prey in the vastness of North America: only the white-tailed eagle is larger than it.
Male bald eagle individuals are noticeably smaller in size than their partners. Birds weigh from 3 to 6.5 kg, grow to 0.7-1.2 m with a 2-meter (and sometimes more) span of wide, rounded wings.
This is interesting! The eagle's legs are devoid of feathers and are painted (like the hook-shaped beak) golden yellow.
It may seem that the bird is frowning: this effect is created by growths on the eyebrows. Contrasting with the frightening appearance of the eagle is its weak voice, which manifests itself as a whistle or high-pitched screech.
Strong fingers grow up to 15 cm, ending in sharp claws. The rear claw acts like an awl, piercing the victim's vital organs, while the front claws prevent it from escaping.
The feather vestment of an eagle takes on a complete form after 5 years. At this age, the bird can already be distinguished by its white head and tail (wedge-shaped) against the general dark brown background of the plumage.
Living in the wild
The bald eagle cannot live far from water. A natural body of water (lake, river, estuary or sea) should be located 200-2000 meters from the nesting site.
Habitats, geography
The eagle chooses coniferous forests or hard-leaved groves for nesting/resting, and when deciding on a body of water, it proceeds from the “assortment” and quantity of game.
The species' range extends to the USA and Canada, fragmentarily covering Mexico (northern states).
This is interesting! In June 1782, the bald eagle became the official emblem of the United States of America. Benjamin Franklin, who insisted on choosing the bird, later regretted it, citing its “bad moral character.” He meant the eagle's love for carrion and its tendency to take prey from other predators.
The eagle is seen on the islands of Miquelon and Saint-Pierre, which belong to the French Republic. Nesting sites are “scattered” extremely unevenly: their clusters are located on sea coasts, as well as coastal zones of lakes and rivers.
Occasionally, bald eagles enter the US Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Ireland, Belize and Puerto Rico. Eagles have been repeatedly spotted in our Far East.
Bald Eagle Lifestyle
The bald eagle is one of the rare feathered predators capable of creating mass aggregations. Hundreds and even thousands of eagles gather where there is a lot of food: close to hydroelectric power stations or in areas of mass mortality of livestock.
When a body of water freezes, birds leave it, rushing south, including to the warm sea shores. Adult eagles can remain in their native areas if the coastal zone is not covered with ice, which allows them to fish.
This is interesting! In its natural environment, a bald eagle lives from 15 to 20 years. It is known that one (banded in childhood) eagle lived to almost 33 years. In favorable artificial conditions, for example, in aviaries, these birds live for more than 40 years.
Diet, nutrition
The bald eagle's menu is dominated by fish and, much less often, small game. He does not hesitate to take the prey of other predators and does not disdain carrion.
As a result of research, it turned out that the eagle’s diet looks something like this:
- Fish – 56%.
- Poultry – 28%.
- Mammals – 14%.
- Other animals – 2%.
The last position is represented by reptiles, primarily turtles.
On the Pacific islands, eagles chase sea otters, as well as seal and sea lion pups. Birds prey on muskrats, rabbits, ground squirrels, raccoons, hares, squirrels, rats and young beavers. It costs an eagle nothing to kill a small sheep or other domestic animal.
The eagle prefers to take birds by surprise on land or on water, but can also catch them in flight. So, the predator flies up to the goose from below and, turning over, grabs its chest with its claws. In pursuit of a hare or heron, eagles form a temporary alliance in which one of them distracts the object, and the second attacks from the rear.
The bird tracks fish, its main prey, in shallow water: like an osprey, the eagle looks at its prey from above and dives at it at a speed of 120–160 km/h, capturing it with its tenacious talons. At the same time, the hunter tries not to get his feathers wet, but this does not always work. The eagle eats both freshly caught and dead fish.
By winter, when water bodies freeze, the share of carrion in the bird's menu increases significantly. Eagles circle around the carcasses of large and medium-sized mammals, such as:
- reindeer;
- moose;
- bison;
- wolves;
- rams;
- cows;
- arctic foxes and others.
Smaller scavengers (foxes and coyotes) cannot compete with adult eagles in the fight for carcasses, but they are able to drive away immature ones.
Young eagles find another way out - not knowing how to hunt live game, they not only take prey from small birds of prey (hawks, crows and seagulls), but also kill those they have robbed.
The bald eagle does not hesitate to pick up food scraps in landfills or food scraps near campsites.
The main enemies of birds
If we do not take humans into account, the list of natural enemies of the eagle should include the great eagle owl and the raccoon: these animals do not harm adult individuals, but threaten the offspring of eagles, destroying eggs and chicks.
The danger also comes from arctic foxes, but only when the nest is built on the surface of the ground. Ravens can disturb eagles while their chicks are hatching, without, however, going so far as to destroy the nests themselves.
This is interesting! The Indians made whistles for warriors and tools for expelling illnesses from eagle bones, and jewelry and amulets from bird claws. An Ojibwe Indian could receive a feather for special merit, such as scalping or capturing an enemy. Feathers, symbolizing glory and strength, were kept in the tribe, passed down by inheritance.
Bald Eagle Reproduction
Birds reach fertile age no earlier than four, sometimes six to seven years. Like many hawks, bald eagles are monogamous. Their union breaks up only in two cases: if the couple has no children or one of the birds does not return from the south.
The mating union is considered sealed when the eagles begin to build a nest - a large-scale structure of twigs and branches, placed on the top of a tall tree.
This structure (weighing a ton) exceeds the dimensions of the nests of all North American birds, reaching 4 m in height and 2.5 m in diameter. The construction of the nest, which is carried out by both parents, lasts from a week to 3 months, but the branches are usually laid by the partner.
At the right time (with an interval of one or two days), she lays 1-3 eggs, less often four. If the clutch is destroyed, the eggs are laid again. Incubation, entrusted mainly to the female, takes 35 days. She is only occasionally replaced by a partner, whose task is to search for food.
The chicks have to fight for food: it is not surprising that the younger ones die. When the chicks are 5-6 weeks old, the parents fly away from the nest, watching the children from a nearby branch. At this age, babies already know how to jump from branch to branch and tear meat into pieces, and after 10-12.5 weeks they begin to fly.
Number, population
Before Europeans settled North America, 250-500 thousand bald eagles lived here (according to ornithologists). The settlers not only changed the landscape, but also shamelessly shot birds, seduced by their beautiful plumage.
The emergence of new settlements led to a decrease in water supplies where eagles fished. Farmers killed eagles purposefully, avenging them for the theft of domestic sheep/chickens, and for fish, which the villagers did not want to share with the birds.
Thallium sulfate and strychnine were also used: they were sprinkled on livestock carcasses, protecting them from wolves, eagles and coyotes. The eagle population has declined so much that the bird has almost disappeared in the United States, remaining only in Alaska.
This is interesting! In 1940, Franklin Roosevelt was forced to pass the Bald Eagle Conservation Act. When World War II ended, the number of the species was estimated at 50 thousand individuals.
The Orlans were faced with a new misfortune, the toxic chemical DDT, which was used in the battle against harmful insects. The drug did not harm adult eagles, but affected the shells of eggs, which cracked during incubation.
Thanks to DDT, by 1963 there were only 487 bird pairs in the United States. After the insecticide was banned, the population began to recover. Now the bald eagle (according to the international Red Book) is classified as a species of minimal concern.
Royal majesty, predatory grace and power have long made the eagle a symbol of power. Being the national emblem of the United States of America, it adorns the coat of arms of this state.
Habitat. Lives in North America.
Habitat.
The bald eagle lives in North America - from the southern edges of Alaska through Canada to the southern border of the United States. The main nesting sites of these feathered predators are located in the northern regions, and only a few pairs settle in the south. When choosing a place for a nest, eagles give preference to areas overgrown with tall coniferous trees, and in treeless tundra they nest on high rocks or islands. The main thing is that there is water nearby: the sea coast, river or lake. Eagles are typical inhabitants of the temperate climate zone, but many of them settle in colder regions, closer to the Arctic Circle.
Species: Bald eagle – Halietus leucocephalus.
Family: Accipitridae.
Order: Diurnal birds of prey.
Class: Birds.
Subphylum: Vertebrates.
Did you know?
- The bald eagle conscientiously performs the duties of an orderly, destroying, first of all, sick and wounded animals and clearing the surrounding area of carrion.
- The eagle is an extremely vocal bird with a rich “vocabulary”.
- While improving their flying skills, young eagles often start playing games in the air. Someone from the company flies high into the sky with a branch in his claws, then releases it, and his relatives try to catch it on the fly. Sometimes adult birds also join in the games of the young.
- One pair of eagles can use the same nest for years, which after many repairs and reconstructions reaches 3 m in diameter.
- An adult eagle can eat more than a kilogram of meat in one sitting.
- The first chick to hatch is usually larger and stronger than the others. If the parents bring too little food, the weak eaglets die of hunger, since all the food goes to the strongest.
Security.
In the 18th century, bald eagles were found in abundance throughout North America, but with the advent of white settlers, their numbers began to decline rapidly. Intensive farming and the use of pesticides have led to mass mortality of adult birds; the chicks died of hunger, and many couples, having become infertile, could not breed offspring. Today, the population of the southern subspecies of the eagle is endangered; To save her, scientists raise the chicks in captivity and then release them to freedom. The eagles receive food without contact with people, so that once they gain freedom, they will not forget how to get food on their own.
Lifestyle.
Adult eagles lead a sedentary lifestyle and only in very cold winters do they move to the south, where it is easier to get food. Young birds wander in groups for several years - they fly along the sea coast or make forays inland following salmon going to spawn. Sometimes during such wanderings the birds find a mate. The bald eagle is a monogamous bird, and the couple live in peace and harmony, not being separated for years. At the beginning of the nesting season, the male occupies a certain area and protects it from strangers. The hunting skills of the eagle can be the envy of many. Among the trophies of this bird, fish and waterfowl predominate, but sometimes cuttlefish, ptarmigan, rabbits, muskrats and young sea otters are caught in the claws, and on occasion the eagle will not disdain carrion. When getting ready to hunt, the predator chooses a convenient observation post and can sit motionless for hours, looking out for prey. Having spotted a fish, he rushes headlong towards the target above the water itself and grabs it with sharp claws. If the fish is very large, then the eagle falls like a stone onto it from a height of about 15 m and disappears under the water for a moment to grab the prey. When hunting waterfowl, the eagle pursues the prey until it is exhausted, and, having overtaken the bird in flight, turns over on its back to strike from below. Bald eagles often take food from terns and scavengers. In winter, eagles gather in small groups: together it is easier to feed themselves and survive the cold. If the prey is too large, the birds work together to pull it ashore. When they go hunting, they clearly distribute responsibilities: the beaters drive the rabbits out of their holes, and their brothers wait in ambush for their prey. Despite frequent quarrels over tidbits, eagles prefer to stick together. Usually the strongest starts eating first, and the rest patiently wait for their turn.
Reproduction.
When the time comes to breed, a pair of eagles returns to their native nest. Young birds about to have their first brood must first occupy a site and build a nest. The current partners demonstrate the wonders of aerial acrobatics - they somersault in the sky, grabbing each other with their claws, and fall head over heels to separate above the ground and fly apart. After the mating flights, it’s time to build a new nest or repair last year’s nest. Before mating, the male approaches his partner, rhythmically nodding his head, flapping his open wings forcefully and spreading his tail like a fan. The female crouches down favorably, and the gentleman, without hesitation, climbs onto her back. The mating ritual is repeated several times. After about three weeks, the female lays 2-4 eggs and incubates the clutch alone for the first few days, and then alternates with her husband. After 34-35 days, weak and helpless chicks hatch from the eggs. Parents not only provide them with food, but also protect them from cold or overheating. At first, the chicks sit in a group in the center of the nest, and later they sit around the edges and look around the surroundings while waiting for lunch. At 9-11 weeks of age, eaglets try to fly for the first time, and by 12 weeks they confidently fly, but do not yet begin to hunt on their own and sit on their parents’ bread for another 6-8 weeks. As soon as the young learn to get food themselves, their parents leave them. Young eagles have uniform dark brown plumage, dark beaks and legs. Until reaching sexual maturity at about five years of age, the juveniles live in groups. During this time, the birds acquire the coloring typical of adults, and their beaks and paws become lighter.
Bald eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Length:76-82 cm.
Wingspan: 2.5 m.
Weight: male – 4.0-4.6 kg, female – 5.8-6.3 kg.
Number of eggs in a clutch: 1-4.
Incubation period: 34-35 days.
Sexual maturity: 5 years.
Diet: carnivores.
Structure.
Nostrils. At the base of the beak are large oval nasal openings.
Eyes. The round eyes are set deep under the brow ridges.
Plumage. The bird's body is covered with dark brown plumage. The head and tail are white.
Beak. The ribbed, downward hooked beak is used for tearing prey.
Wings. Thanks to its very long and wide wings, the eagle has perfect gliding flight.
Head. The head covered with white feathers serves as an identification mark for birds of this species.
Fingers. Four short yellow fingers end in long, hooked and very sharp claws.
Legs. Strong legs feathered to the tarsus.
Tail. In flight, the white tail feathers are spread out in a wide fan.
Related species.
Along with the bald eagle, the genus Haliaeetus includes seven more species of diurnal raptors that have a number of common features. All eagles have a very wide wingspan, a rounded tail, their legs are feathered only up to the tarsus, and their paws are armed with sharp claws like daggers. Powerful, hooked beaks allow the birds to easily tear their prey to pieces. Adult eagles sport contrasting plumage, while young ones are entirely brown. Most often, eagles settle near sea coasts, along the banks of rivers and lakes.
If you think you know the exact answer to the question, then you are deeply mistaken!
