Eagle

Eagles are large, powerful birds of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae. While scientists use the term "true eagles" for the subfamily Aquilinae, many other birds are commonly called eagles. This name does not always carry specific taxonomic weight. Most of the 68 eagle species live in Eurasia and Africa. Only 14 species live outside these regions. You can find two species in North America. Nine species live in Central and South America. Three species are found in Australia.

Eagles are built specifically for hunting large vertebrates. They possess heavy heads and massive, hooked beaks. These beaks are designed to rip flesh from prey. Their legs are muscular and end in powerful talons. Even the smallest eagle, the Great Nicobar serpent eagle, weighs about 450 grams. It is only 40 centimeters long. In contrast, many eagles are larger than almost any other raptors, except for some vultures.

Vision is a vital tool for an eagle's survival. The wedge-tailed eagle has visual acuity twice that of a typical human. This incredible eyesight allows them to spot prey from great distances. Their large pupils help minimize diffraction, which is the scattering of light. This ensures the light entering the eye is clear. However, like most diurnal raptors, they have little ability to see ultraviolet light.

Eagles are apex predators at the top of the food chain. Their hunting methods vary by genus and environment. The genus Haliaeetus and Icthyophaga includes fish eagles. These birds often hunt fish or other water birds. Some are also kleptoparasites, meaning they steal food from other birds. The genus Aquila contains eagles that hunt in open habitats. They take almost any medium-sized vertebrate they can catch.

Other eagles specialize in different environments and prey. The genera Circaetus, Terathopius, and Spilornis include snake eagles. These birds primarily hunt the diverse snakes found in tropical Africa and Asia. The genus Spizaetus contains many species that live in dense woodlands. These eagles often ambush mammals or birds in thick forests. Some eagles, like the harpy eagle, have shorter wingspans. This allows them to maneuver quickly through forest branches.

Eagles show incredible strength when carrying heavy loads. A bald eagle was verified to fly with a 6.8 kg mule deer fawn. Some eagles hunt prey much heavier than their own body mass. Golden and crowned eagles have killed ungulates weighing up to 30 kg. A martial eagle once killed a 37 kg duiker. This animal was seven to eight times heavier than the eagle itself. In such cases, the eagle may eat the prey at the kill site.

Historically, the English word "eagle" comes from the Old French "aigle." This term traces back to the Latin "aquila." Before this, the native English term was "ern." This word is still used today to refer to certain fish eagles.

Eagles are found in nearly all habitats across the globe. They live in environments ranging from northern tundra to tropical rainforests. They also inhabit deserts. They typically build nests, known as eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. While some believe eagles fly above the clouds, they actually fly during storms. They use the pressure of the wind to glide, which helps them save energy.