Where does the bald eagle live in which country. Eagles
Orlan has the classic appearance of a feathered aggressor. From the Greek, the name of the bird is translated as sea eagle. Indeed, he is very similar to an eagle. But he has no feathers on his paws. More powerful beak. There are nuances in the shape of the wings and tail, which is due to differences in hunting methods.
In English, there were no separate names for eagles and eagles. Both are called eagle, that is, an eagle.
Description and features
Eagles are one of the largest and most beautiful birds of prey. Weight reaches 7 kilograms, and the Steller's sea eagle can reach up to 9 kilograms. The dimensions are corresponding: body length up to 120 centimeters, wing length up to 75 centimeters, wingspan up to 250 centimeters.
On a small, neat, mobile head is an exemplary beak of a bird of prey. It has a pronounced hookiness and a warning yellow color. The size of the beak (8 centimeters from base to tip) indicates that the bird prefers large prey. To match the beak, the color of deep-set eyes, they are also yellow. The neck allows the head to rotate almost 180 degrees.
The wings are wide. When flying, the flight feathers are placed to the sides, the wing area increases even more. This provides economical and effective soaring in ascending air currents.
The wedge-shaped tail helps to perform complex, almost acrobatic stunts. A characteristic feature of the eagle: its yellow paws are not covered with feathers to the very fingers. Toes of the same color as the paws, up to 15 centimeters long, ending in powerful hooked claws.
The general color of the feathers is brown with streaks. Some species have extensive white spots in different parts of the body. Plumage color changes greatly with age. Coloring becomes stable only by 8-10 years. The first feathers are evenly colored brown.
The second molt brings variety in the form of blotches of white. The third molt is an intermediate step to the final coloring. Adult, final coloring is achieved only after the fifth molt.
The bird looks very impressive, but its cry is not terrifying. She reproduces screaming and whistling. A high pitch can be replaced by a sound similar to a cold chirp. The cries of young birds sound more abruptly.
Rarely go to the sound exchange of information. This mainly occurs when changing partners on the nest.
Sexual dimorphism is weak. It consists mainly in the difference in the size of females and males. But the eagles deviated from the general natural rule. Their females are larger than males (by 15-20 percent).
This happens only in a few species of birds of prey. This is explained by the fact that the preferred right to leave offspring is received not by large males, but by those that can hunt small prey during the period of feeding chicks.
Kinds
According to the biological classifier, the sea eagle (Haliaeetus) is included in the subfamily of the same name, the sea eagles (Haliaeetinae), which belongs to the hawk family, which is assigned to the hawk-like order. Scientists divide this genus into eight species.
- The most common and one of the largest is white-tailed eagle. Zoologists call it Haliaeetus albicilla. The name indicates a distinctive feature - the white color of the tail. It builds nests in Europe, in Asia north of the Himalayas, including Japan. Found in southwestern Greenland.
- Lives in the North and brings offspring bald eagle. Its Latin name is Haliaeetus leucocephalus. External, conspicuous difference is reflected in his name. This eagle has white feathers on its head. The basis of his diet is fish. For a long time it was classified as an extinct species. But strict security made itself felt.
At the end of the 20th century, instead of the status of the disappeared, it received the status of endangered. There is another unique quality - no bird in America builds such large nests. At the base, they can reach 4 meters.
- Steller's sea eagle- the largest species. The classifier is referred to as Haliaeetus pelagicus. It inhabits the Far East, including the Koryak Highlands, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, northern China, and the Korean Peninsula. Dark brown plumage and white spots on the shoulders are the main features of its color. In the Russian Far East, there are up to 4,000 individuals, which is considered a good number for sea eagles.
- The white-bellied sea eagle is distributed on the continental coast and islands of Southeast Asia, from the coast of India to the Philippines, and is found in northern Australia. It is listed in the classifier under the name Haliaeetus leucogaster. This bird has the most diverse menu and is more prone to carrion than other related species. Australians sometimes call her red eagle because of the brown plumage of young birds.
- The long-tailed eagle has a white head covered with a bright brown hood. It is known to science as Haliaeetus leucoryphus. It lives in Central Asia, in the east it reaches Mongolia and China, in the south - to India, Pakistan, Burma.
- The screaming eagle is a resident. Its ability to make unusual cries is reflected even in the Latin name: Haliaeetus vocifer. It breeds throughout Africa, with the exception of the Sahara. The first half of the name of this bird, like all eagles, comes from the ancient Greek word meaning sea eagle. The second part of the name of this bird was assigned in the 18th century by the French traveler Francois Levalian.
- The Madagascar screamer eagle is an inhabitant of an island in the Indian Ocean. In Latin it is called Haliaeetus vociferoides. This is an endemic species. Inhabits tropical broad-leaved Madagascar. It is unknown if this species still exists. In 1980, scientists counted only 25 pairs.
- Sanford's Eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi) breeds chicks in the Solomon Islands. They are sometimes named after them. It is endemic. Described only in 1935. At this time, Dr. Leonard Sanford was a trustee of the American Society of Natural History. For nesting, it prefers a coastline that rises significantly above the water.
Lifestyle and habitat
The general range of eagles extends from North America to Australia, including Greenland, Africa, most of Eurasia, the Far East, Japan, and the islands of the Malay Archipelago.
They lead mainly a sedentary life, but under the pressure of circumstances they can roam. These circumstances can be: a harsh winter, a decrease in game, economic activities of people. Then the birds embark on food migrations, change their nesting sites.
All species of this bird prefer to settle near the water. For successful hunting, a pair of sea eagles needs a plot with a coastline of 10 kilometers and a total area of 8 hectares.
In addition, a sufficient amount of potential prey must be present. Another condition for choosing a living space is remoteness from human habitation and economic facilities.
Bare steppe, desert areas do not suit birds even if there are large reservoirs nearby. Coniferous and mixed forests, uneven terrain, turning into rocks - such a landscape attracts birds to build a nest.
Nutrition
The menu of the eagles includes five main components. First of all, it is a medium-sized fish. A waterfowl or near-water bird is also a desirable prey. Ground game of various sizes from rodents to foxes is the target of these hunters. They do not disdain amphibians and reptiles from frogs to snakes. Despite the reputation of a successful predator, eagles eat carrion with pleasure.
Fun fishing eagle, pictured and video you can study in detail this masterfully performed action. Large fish are seen in flight or while on a high dominant tree.
Soaring enters the phase of active flight. The predator attacks at speeds above 40-50 kilometers per hour and picks up fish with hooked claws. Fast and accurate attack performs eagle, bird while doing so, he manages not to wet his feathers. Butchering and eating the caught fish can begin in flight.
When hunting ducks, the eagle drops several times. Makes you dive multiple times. As a result, the victim is exhausted and unable to resist. Some birds are attacked by a predator in the air.
It flies up from below, turns over and cuts its claws into the chest of its prey. During the hunt, the bird remembers that competitors are not asleep. Stealing and taking food is common. Therefore, the task is not only to catch a bird or fish, but also to quickly deliver it to a secret place of the meal.
Reproduction and lifespan
Constancy in relations with a partner is the rule of many birds of prey. Not an exception eagle - bird, creating a couple for life. Such attachment of females and males usually gives rise to a legend that when one bird dies, the second one dies. It is not known for certain, but it is most likely that the remaining bird creates a pair with a new partner.
At the age of 4, the birds are ready to prolong the genus. (Steller's sea eagles start breeding later, at 7 years old). The process of choosing a partner is little studied. But by March-April, pairs are formed and mating games begin. They are joint flights.
Birds chase each other, do aerial somersaults and other acrobatic movements. It turns out the average between demonstrative air combat and dance. Courtship is occupied not only by newly created couples, but also by long-existing ones.
After air games, it's time to take care of the nest. Young couples choose a place and establish a new shelter. Birds with family experience repair and build on the old nest. It is located on a large tree or rock ledge.
The main building material for the dwelling are branches, inside it is lined with dry grass. At the base, the abode for offspring reaches 2.5 meters. The height can be significant (1-2 meters) and depends on the number of repairs (superstructures) made.
After the completion of repair and construction work, the birds mate. Most often, the female lays two eggs. There are clutches of one or three eggs. The female is constantly incubating. Sometimes it is replaced by a male.
Helpless chicks appear after 35-45 days. The female stays in the nest for another 15-20 days, protecting and warming the offspring. The male delivers food to the nest - this is his main task. If three chicks hatch, the youngest dies, due to fierce food competition.
After about 2.5 months, the young flies out of the nest for the first time. Flying is sometimes like falling. In this case, the fledgling moves on foot, before the wings are fully strengthened.
Young eagles become real feathered eagles in 3-3.5 months from the moment they are born. Under suitable climatic conditions, a married couple can raise two generations in one season.
Life expectancy in nature is 23-27 years. It should be taken into account that species of sea eagles live in vast areas, in very different conditions. Therefore, data on the timing of events in the life of birds can vary greatly.
Even numbering in the thousands white-tailed eagle in the red book listed as a species in danger of extinction. Some of the eagles have practically disappeared, others may disappear in the 21st century. Therefore, they are protected by states and interstate agreements.
It lives mainly in Canada and the United States, in places penetrating into the northern states of Mexico. In addition to these 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 noted on the sea coasts and near large rivers and lakes. In the west of the range, the eagle willingly settles in the Pacific coastline from Alaska to Oregon, as well as on the Aleutian Islands. There are consistently many eagles in the Rocky Mountains in the states of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. In the eastern United States, birds are most numerous in Florida (the second largest population after Alaska), on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and in the Great Lakes region. Smaller 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. Random flights have been reported in Bermuda, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Belize and Ireland.
The habitats of the bald eagle are always associated with a large body of water - the ocean, estuary, large lake or a wide section of the river. In the conditions of inland waters, the length of the coastline should be at least 11 km; the smallest open water area recorded for a breeding pair was 8 ha. When choosing a reservoir, the abundance of diverse and accessible game on it is very important - the more it is, the higher the density of settlements. The eagle usually rests and nests in mature forest dominated by coniferous and hardwood trees. For perching and nest building it uses a strong, often dominant tree with an open crown and good visibility. During the breeding season, it avoids cultivated landscapes and, in general, places actively visited by people, even if there is a favorable food base nearby. The size of the feeding area varies throughout, with known figures varying from 2.6 km 2 in the Upper Klamath Lake region in Oregon to about 648 km 2 in Arizona.
The pattern of migration depends on several factors, including climatic conditions, food availability, location of the nesting site, and the age of the individual. If the surface of the reservoir is completely covered with ice, then all the sea 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 a part of adults 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 in the northern periphery of the range are significantly larger than birds living in the southern part of the range. The beak is large, hook-shaped, in an adult bird it is colored golden yellow. Outgrowths on the superciliary arches of the skull are characteristic, which gives the bird a frown. Legs of the same color as the beak, without signs of plumage. Fingers up to 15 cm long, strong, with sharp claws. With its front fingers, the bird holds the victim, while with a well-developed hind claw, it pierces its vital organs. The tarsus, unlike the eagles, is completely bare. The rainbow is yellow. The wings are broad and rounded; tail of medium length, wedge-shaped. The eagle acquires its final feather outfit only at the beginning of the 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, unhurried, with occasional wing beats. When soaring, wide wings are set at right angles to the body, and the head is extended forward.
Despite its formidable appearance, the bald eagle has a relatively weak voice. Most often, you can hear a high-pitched scream or whistle, transmitted as "quick-kick-kick-kick." In addition to a high-pitched scream, a low chirp is also distinguished, which is transmitted as “how-how-how-how-how”. Young birds have a sharper, rougher voice. Vocalization most often appears during the "changing of the guard" on the nest, as well as in places of mass accumulation of birds in the winter.
Like other eagles, the bald eagle feeds mainly on fish, although it also preys on 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 gerbil, large-lipped chukuchan, 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, ground squirrels, 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 food.
Usually the eagle hunts in shallow water, where fish accumulate at the very surface of the reservoir. The main method of obtaining food is similar to the hunting skills of the 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 dive flight is 120-160 km/h, the speed of an ordinary waving flight is 56-70 km/h. Less commonly, the bird roams the water and pecks at fry passing by. Compared to the osprey, the eagle specializes in larger prey and is unable to catch small fish with its powerful claws. The mass of the burden he holds usually varies from 1 to 3 kg. A burden that is too heavy can submerge the predator in the water, in which case the bird will successfully swim to shore, unless it dies of hypothermia in the icy water. Sometimes cooperative hunting is observed when one of the birds of a pair distracts the victim, and the other attacks it from the rear. This way of obtaining food is more typical for large ground game, such as a hare or a heron. Eagles can also catch feathered prey in the air, although they are more often taken by surprise on land or water. When catching geese, a predator can fly up from below, roll over in the air and cling to the victim's chest with its claws. With diving ducks, a different technique is used: the bird circles over a potential victim, forcing it to hide under water. After several dives, the weakened bird becomes easy prey for predators. Having taken the prey to a shallow or a tree, the bird starts the meal, pressing it to the support with one foot and pinching off pieces with the other. Often others try to join one feeding bird, so the eagle that has caught the 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 typical monogamous, with each male mating with one female. It is traditionally believed that partners remain "marital" fidelity 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. The couple also breaks up when they are unable to reproduce joint offspring. Pairs are formed both within the nesting range and on wintering grounds. The mating behavior is especially pronounced in the demonstrative flight of both birds, during which they chase each other, make deep dives and turn upside down.
Nesting begins in Florida in late September-early October, in Ohio and Pennsylvania in February, in Alaska in January, but in any case much earlier than in 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 flight, no further than a couple of kilometers from open water. Sources claim that the eagle's nest is the largest of any bird in North America. Often it can reach 2.5 m in diameter, 4 m high and weigh about a ton. Given 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, there are known nests that have been used for decades. In exceptional cases, when there is no woody vegetation in the breeding area, as, for example, on Amchitka Island (Aleutian Islands), the nest can be built on a rocky ledge or in another place that is difficult for ground predators. In the Sonoran Desert, where trees are also rare, eagles nested on top of a giant cactus. The main branch frame is held together with grass, corn stalks, dry algae and other similar material. Both parents take part in the construction, which can take from several days to 3 months, but the female is mainly responsible for laying the branches. Although the main construction takes place before the start of egg laying, later both birds of the pair additionally strengthen the already finished structure. In addition to the main nest, within the same area there may be one or more spare ones that the birds use from time to time, in particular after the death of the original clutch.
Eggs are laid 1-3 months after the start of nest building. In a full clutch, as a rule, 1-3 (most often 2) eggs are 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 dull white, without a pattern, have a wide oval shape. Their dimensions are 58-85 x 47-63 mm. The size as well as the weight of the eggs tends to increase from south to north in accordance with the size of the birds themselves. The duration of incubation is about 35 days. It incubates and also feeds offspring, mainly the female, the male only replaces her from time to time. The main task of the male is foraging. The chicks are born in the same order that the eggs were laid, so they differ markedly from each other in size. The emerging chicks are covered with down and helpless; the first two or three weeks, one of the parents is constantly in the nest - mostly 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 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 take to 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 they become completely independent and disperse. Approximately half of the eagles have time to reproduce the second brood during the 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 course of the Apuka River), the valley of the Penzhina River, Karaginsky Island. It is found in the lower reaches of the Amur, in northern Sakhalin, the Shantar and Kuril Islands, as well as in Korea. Occasionally, 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 the period of winter migrations. It 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 the valleys of the lower reaches of the rivers with tall forests, rocky sea coasts, shores of large lakes. The presence of reservoirs with available fish, primarily with salmon, is a decisive factor in the habitat of Steller's sea eagles.
The total length of the bird is 85-105 cm, the wingspan is 195-250 cm, and the weight is 7.5-9 kg. In adult birds, the coloration consists of a combination of dark brown with white (but there is also a single-color dark brown variation). The forehead, lower leg plumage, small and medium wing coverts, as well as tail ones are white, the rest of the plumage is dark brown. Juveniles in the first year of life are brown with white bases of feathers and with buffy streaks. Males and females are colored the same, the final outfit is put on at the age of three. The iris is light brown, the massive beak is yellowish brown, the cere and paws are yellow, and the claws are black.
The main food is salmon. In addition, they attack young seals, birds (grouse, white partridges, ducks, gulls), mammals (hares, arctic fox, ermine, sable), marine invertebrates (bivalves, cephalopods, crabs), eat carrion, sea emissions. With the start of the salmon run for spawning, most Steller's sea eagles eat them, and not only live fish, but also dead, spawned ones, and often prefer it. Most often, Steller's sea eagles lie in wait for prey from tall trees or rocky ledges at a height 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, standing in shallow water on a sandbank.
They are monogamous birds. Marriage pairs are formed at the age of more than 4 years, at this time the eagles can build a ritual nest in autumn, in which they do not nest. The mating games begin in March. Mating takes place on the nest. Nest - a huge structure of massive and heavy boughs on top of a tree or on the upper surface of rocks, often overgrown with grass. As a rule, nests are built on large, mature trees, often with a dead top. One nest is used for 5-8 years. Many pairs have two nests (not more than 900 m apart) which they occupy from time to time. Annually repaired nests 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. In clutch there are 1-3 white eggs with a greenish tinge, incubation lasts 34-36 days. Incubation starts with the first egg. Chicks appear in May-June and stay in the nest for 2-2.5 months, fly out in late 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 sea eagles begin to breed at the age of not earlier than 7 years.
white-bellied eagle
White-bellied Sea Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucogaster)
Inhabits the sea coasts of India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia and Tasmania. It is, as a rule, a sedentary bird; some individuals live in one place throughout the year, but others are nomadic.
The head, chest, covert feathers under the wing and tail of an adult eagle are white. The upper parts of the body are grey. 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 cere is bluish, and the legs are pale yellow or grey. The young bird is brownish. Males and females are similar in coloration, but the female is somewhat larger. The body length of the male is 66-80 cm, with a weight of 1.8-3 kg. The body length of the female is 80-90 cm, with a weight of 2.5-4.5 kg.
These birds are often seen perching high in trees or hovering over bodies of water and the ground 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, it is able to catch birds and flying foxes in the air. It feeds mainly on fish, sea turtles and snakes, preys on small penguins, coots, petrels and mammals, and also eats carrion, which it finds along the coastline. They often take food from other smaller birds of prey.
The breeding season is highly dependent on the habitat, usually during the dry season. These are monogamous birds: the pair stays together until one of the partners dies. Then the second finds a new one. This results in some nesting sites being continuously occupied for many years. Nests are made on ledges of rocks or on tall trees, sometimes nests of other birds of prey are used. The nest site is chosen in such a way that there is a good overview of the surroundings. 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. It takes 3 to 6 weeks to build or repair. The clutch usually contains 2 white eggs. The female incubates the eggs for about 6 weeks, while the male brings her food. The chicks fledge at 70-80 days but stay with their parents until 6 months of age 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. It lives in lowland and mountain forests along the coastline at an altitude of up to 1500 m above sea level.
The chest and belly are reddish brown, the upper body is darker, the head and neck are light brown, and the tail is dark brown. Body length 70-90 cm, wingspan 165-185 cm, body weight of males is 1.1-1.9 kg, females - 1.3-2.7 kg.
It feeds on fish, molluscs, sea turtles and snakes, carrion thrown ashore, and sometimes preys on birds and flying foxes.
The breeding season runs from August to October. The clutch usually contains 2 eggs.
Eagle-screamer
African Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus vocifer)
Distributed in Africa south of the Sahara at an altitude of 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 is from 63 to 57 cm, the wingspan is 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 painted white, while the rest of the body is chestnut or grey. The feathers on the tips of the wings are black. The beak is yellow with a black tip, and the legs are also light yellow.
Shouting eagles can often be seen in the crowns of tall trees from which they survey their range. The ranges often cover the riverbed or the shore of some large reservoir. Screamer eagles make two different distinctive sounds unlike any other bird species. As a rule, these birds call in pairs, the female has a more piercing call. It is typical to throw the head back during a cry in a sitting position.
It feeds mainly on fish, less often preys on small flamingos, ibis, storks and other water birds. Sometimes their prey can be made up of small turtles, small crocodiles, toads, sea snakes or carrion. Screaming eagles are very skillful flyers and often take prey from other birds. They wait a long time on the top of the tree for the moment when a fish appears near the surface, and in a dive flight they grab it, eating it on the tree. Prey, the weight of which exceeds 1.5 kg, they cannot lift and eat on the shore.
The breeding season is during the dry season when water levels are low. Scream eagles are monogamous birds. Nests are built on a tall tree near the water. Dry branches serve as building material. Nests have been 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 a few reddish spots. Mostly the female incubates for 42-45 days. After 70-75 days after birth, the chicks begin to fly, after another eight weeks they begin to independently obtain food. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of four years.
Madagascar screamer eagle
Madagascar Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus vociferoides)
It lives in dry deciduous forests along the western coast of the island of Madagascar. Always kept near water bodies 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 coloration is dark brown with red streaks, the head is pale brown, the cheeks and throat are white, the short tail is white. The beak is black, the legs are pale gray.
Often sits on a tall tree or flies over water, looking for prey. It feeds mainly on fish, sometimes crabs, sea turtles, water birds, and also takes prey from other birds of prey.
Keep in pairs. The breeding season runs from May to October. Nests are built in a fork in a tall tree or on a rock ledge. The clutch usually contains 2 eggs. The incubation period lasts 37-43 days. Both parents incubate, but mostly the female. The chicks leave the nest after 78-89 days.
Longtail 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 keeps 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 lack a 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 frogs, turtles, reptiles, waterfowl and their chicks, and carrion. Often takes fish from other birds of prey. Prey is enough 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. Nests are built by both parents on top of a tall tree growing near a pond. The nest is a large platform of dry branches lined with dry grass. The clutch contains 1-3 eggs, which incubate for 40-45 days. The last chick that hatches 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 North India. The white-tailed eagle settles most often along the shores of large lakes and rivers, 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 much larger in size and weight than males. The body weight of the female is 4-7 kg, the male - 3-5.4 kg. The tail is short, wedge-shaped. The plumage of an adult is brown, the head and neck are with a yellowish lightening, the tail is white. The beak is light yellow compared to other birds of prey, quite large and powerful. The iris of the eye also has a light yellow color. The paws of the white-tailed eagle are not covered with feathers to the very fingers. Juveniles are dark brown, beak is dark grey. With each molt, young white-tailed eagles become more and more like adults, and at the age of five, the white-tailed eagle fully acquires an adult appearance. In flight, the bird holds its wide wings horizontally.
Since the white-tailed eagle prefers to live near water bodies, its menu is mainly fish. He hunts by flying over the surface of the reservoir, and as soon as he notices the fish, he quickly descends, and can even plunge into the water for a short time to dig into the prey with his strong claws. In addition, it feeds on waterfowl, including geese, loons and large ducks. It also eats mammals - hares, marmots, ground squirrels, etc. Sometimes it feeds on carrion, especially in winter.
The bird tries to build its nest higher from the ground, mainly on trees, less often on rocks. It is built from large branches and thoroughly: it has been used for many years. Over time, the building reaches gigantic proportions, which is why it sometimes overturns by the wind and, breaking tree branches, falls to the ground. In this case, the male and female build a new nest. Pairs are formed for life, in the event of the death of a partner, a replacement is quickly found for him. The white-tailed eagle is ready to reproduce offspring only when it reaches the age of four. The female starts 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, sometimes spotted with buffy spots eggs. For 35-40 days, both partners are alternately engaged in incubation. After the chicks have hatched, 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.
Small fishing eagle
Lesser Fish Eagle
(Ichthyophaga humilis)
Distributed in Southeast Asia: from Northeast India (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. It lives near various water bodies: rivers, lakes, swamps. Prefers mountain streams or fast flowing waters. It lives at an altitude 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 with a wingspan of about 1.2 m. The general color of the body is gray-brown, the thighs and belly are white. The wings are wide, the tail is short and rounded, the head is small, 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 sitting on a rock or a 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 starts in March and ends in August, in other regions it starts in November and ends in April. The nest is built from dry branches and green leaves, it can reach 1 m in diameter and 1.5 m deep. Clutch contains 2 to 4 eggs.
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 an altitude of up to 1500 m above sea level. Breeds near slow-moving rivers and streams, lakes, lagoons, reservoirs, swamps and estuaries.
Body length - 61-75 cm, wingspan - 155-170 cm, tail length - 23-28 cm, female weight is 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 rounded, the paws are short with long claws. The general coloration of the body 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, there is a wide black stripe on the tail.
These eagles are kept singly or in pairs. It flies reluctantly, the flight is heavy. Most of the time he spends sitting on trees hanging over the water and looking for prey. The victim is grabbed by sharp claws from the surface of the water. It can also hunt while standing in streams of rough water on rapids in rivers. The basis of the diet is live fish, sometimes it eats dead fish, less often it feeds on reptiles, water birds and small mammals.
The breeding season in 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, lined with green leaves. Clutch contains 2-4 white eggs. The incubation period lasts 45-50 days. Chicks fledge at 70 days old.
Speaking of birds of prey, one cannot help but admire their strength, speed, agility and sharp eyesight. They soar in the sky over 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 hawk representatives - orlane.
The appearance of an eagle
Orlan belongs to the buzzard subfamily, translated from Greek, its name means marine. Like all members 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. Birds have strong legs with sharp curved claws, long (about 15 cm) fingers have small outgrowths to make it easier to hold prey, especially slippery fish.
The tarsus is naked, without feathers. The massive beak is hooked, yellow. Brow ridges protrude above the keen yellow eyes, 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. May be white head, shoulders, body or tail. 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 long-tailed eagle belongs to the steppe species, living mainly from the Caspian Sea to Transbaikalia. Steller's sea eagle found mainly on the Pacific coast.
Pictured is a Steller's Eagle
bald eagle lives in North America, sometimes flying to the Pacific coast, it is considered symbol United States 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 of some countries there. The largest habitats are in the lower reaches of the Volga and in the Far East, as these places are rich in fish - the main food of these predators.
All sea eagles settle near large reservoirs, on the shores of the seas, estuaries, rivers, lakes. They try not to fly into the very depths of the land. They rarely migrate, but if the waters in which they get food freeze, then the birds fly closer to the south for the winter.
Each stacked couple has its own territory, which they occupy for years. Usually this is at least 10 hectares of water surface. On their part of the coast, they build a nest, live, feed and hatch chicks. The rest hours of the sea eagles are usually spent in the mixed forest.
Pictured is a screamer eagle
The nature and lifestyle of the eagle
They are diurnal, 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 the intended prey, it uses a soaring flight, gliding along the convective (ascending) air currents that hold its wide wings.
When the eagle has noticed the prey, it can quickly approach it, actively flapping its wings and developing a speed of up to 40 km/h. These large birds dive not often, but if desired, falling from a height, they reach speeds of up to 100 km / h.
If the territory of the hunting grounds is not too large, the eagle chooses an observation deck that is convenient for itself and surveys the surroundings, looking for prey.
Eagle feeding
Judging by the territory that eagles choose to live in, it is not difficult to assume that water bodies 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. It feeds on a predator and a bird that lives near water bodies -,,,,,.
Small mammals are also included in the menu, these are , , , . Various, crustaceans, and others, the eagle can also catch, but they are of interest to him in much smaller quantities.
Carrion is also suitable for food, birds will not disdain washed ashore, fish, corpses of various animals. In addition, as a large predator, the eagle considers it not shameful to take prey from smaller and weaker hunters, or even steal it from their own gaping brethren.
The eagle prefers to hunt in shallow water, in those places where the fish are the most and it is not difficult to get it. Having noticed the victim, the bird falls down like a stone, grabs the prey and rises with it into the air.
Feathers during such a hunt do not get wet. Sometimes a predator just walks on the water, pecking out small fish from there. But more often the prey is quite large, the eagle is able to hold weight up to 3 kg.
If the weight turned out to be unbearable, the predator can swim with it to the shore, where it will happily dine. Sometimes a pair of eagles hunt together, especially for larger and faster mammals and birds.
One of the predators distracts the prey, and the second suddenly 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 makes waterfowl dive by circling above them and frightening them. When the duck is tired and weak, it will be easy to catch and pull it ashore. During the meal, the eagle presses food to the branches of trees or to the ground with one foot, and with the other and its beak tears off pieces of meat.
Usually, if there are several around, then the more successful hunter tries to retire, because his hungry gather may well force him to share. Large prey is enough for the sea eagle for a long time, about one kilogram of food can remain in the crop, providing the bird for several days.
Reproduction and life span of the eagle
Like other birds of this species, sea eagles are monogamous. But, if one dies, the second finds a replacement for her. The same happens if the "family" was unable to produce offspring.
The pair is formed at a young age, this can happen both in spring and during wintering. In March-April, the breeding season begins. Enamored eagles circle in the sky, grapple with their claws and dive sharply.
Pictured is a white-tailed eagle's nest
Having tuned in the right way, future parents begin to build a nest, or, if the couple is old, restore last year's one. 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. Such a heavy bird structure is placed on an old, dry tree, or on a separate rock. The main thing is that the support should withstand, and various terrestrial predators could not get to the eggs and chicks.
After 1-3 days, the female lays 1-3 white, matte eggs. The clutch is incubated by the expectant mother for 34-38 days. The hatched babies are completely helpless, and the parents feed them with thin fibers of meat and fish.
In the photo, 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 4 years of life the eagles become sexually mature. But this is normal, considering that these birds live for about 20 years.
Russian name- Bald Eagle
Latin name- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Detachment- falconiformes
Family- hawks
In 1782, the bald eagle was recognized as the national bird of the United States, and since then its image has been featured on the state emblem, presidential standard, banknotes and other government papers and documents.
conservation status
In the United States, the bald eagle has been protected since 1940. One of the two existing subspecies, H.l. leucocephalus (it is called nominal), is included in the IUCN Red List.
View and person
Despite its “state” status and legislative protection, the number of bald eagles in the 19th and 20th centuries increased. decreased sharply. The main reasons for this were mass extermination and human economic activity. The most dangerous for the sea eagle (as well as for all other species of birds of prey) was the widespread use of DDT and other insecticides that have a negative effect on breeding productivity (a large number of eggs laid by the eagles died during incubation). The ban on the use of insecticides has led to a gradual recovery in the number of bald eagles, and now its existence in nature is out of danger. The US currently has laws against killing or capturing live bald eagles without a permit.
In most Indian tribes, the bald eagle was considered a sacred bird, an intermediary between earthly people and the heavenly Great Spirit - the creator of the Universe. Myths and rituals were dedicated to him, clothes and headdresses were decorated with his feathers. Numerous images of the eagle can still be found on household utensils, dishes, baskets, as well as on totem (sacred) poles and burial grounds.
Spreading
The bald eagle lives in Canada, the United States and in some areas in northern Mexico. Its distribution is characterized by extreme unevenness, with the largest number of nesting pairs concentrated on sea coasts and near large rivers and lakes.
Until the end of the twentieth century. the bald eagle has occasionally been observed in the Russian Far East, but these were always only occasional sightings with no signs of nesting.
Eagle populations living on the sea or ocean coast lead a sedentary lifestyle, while populations living along the shores of inland freezing water bodies make regular winter migrations.
Appearance
The bald eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in North America. The total length reaches 70-120 cm, wingspan 180-230 cm, weight - 3-6.3 kg. Females are about ¼ larger than males. Birds living in the northern part of the range are noticeably larger than those living further south.
The beak is large, hook-shaped, golden yellow in adult birds. The legs are also yellow, and the tarsus and fingers are devoid of plumage. The fingers are long, about 15 cm, with sharp claws. With the front fingers the eagle holds the victim, and with the claw of the back finger it kills it.
The coloration of adult birds looks contrasting and very impressive - a dark brown body and a pure white head. But the eagles acquire such an outfit only at the age of 5., Approaching the adult plumage with each molt. Sexual dimorphism appears only in size.
Feeding and feeding behavior
Of all the available food, the bald eagle prefers fish, both live and dead. In second place in importance are aquatic and semi-aquatic birds. With a shortage or unavailability of fish, birds can form the basis of nutrition, and their content in the diet of sea eagles increases from 7-10% to 80%. The predation of sea eagles is most dangerous for bird colonies, where adult birds, chicks, and eggs become easy prey. Of the mammals, bald eagles can prey on medium-sized terrestrial animals, and in some places on seal pups. On average, a bald eagle's diet consists of 56% fish, 28% birds, and 14% mammals.
Activity
Like most birds of prey, eagles are active during the daytime. (It is not without reason that another name for falconiformes is diurnal birds of prey).
Vocalization
The voice of the bald eagle is surprisingly weak and quiet - it is either a high-pitched scream or a whistle. In young birds, the voice is sharper and rougher. Adult eagles can most often be heard during the “changing of the guard” on the nest during incubation, as well as in places of mass accumulation of birds in winter.
social behavior
The social behavior of the bald eagle is not very complex and is similar to that of other species of eagles. Their pairs are constant, but outside the nesting period, the birds lead a solitary lifestyle. The pair joins only during the nesting period.
During winter migrations, a certain number of eagles may gather together in one place, but no strict hierarchy is observed between them.
Reproduction and parenting behavior
The breeding season of bald eagles begins with amazingly beautiful display flights of both birds, during which they chase each other, make deep dives in the air and turn upside down.
The pair then settle in their nesting area. The territory they protect around the nest is approximately 1-2 sq. km, but may be more or less depending on the number of neighboring pairs and the availability of available prey.
Nest building begins in different states of the USA at different times, from late September to January, but always earlier than other birds of prey in the area. The nest of bald eagles is built from large branches and branches and is located in the crown of a tall living tree with the possibility of free flight of such large birds and no further than 1-2 km from the water. Among American ornithologists, there is an opinion that the bald eagle's nest is the largest among all birds in North America: it can reach a diameter of 2.5 m and 4 m in height, and weigh about 1 ton. The eagles fasten the main branch frame with grass, dry corn stalks or dry algae. Building a nest or renovating it takes from several days to 3 months. Both parents participate in this work, but still more often the male only brings building material, and the female puts it in the nest. In addition to the main nest on the site of each pair, there may be several spare ones.
Laying takes place 1-3 months after the start of nest construction. The clutch usually contains 2 large light eggs (from 1 to 3), which are laid at intervals of 1 or 2 days. Incubation lasts about 35 days and starts with the first egg. The female mainly incubates, the male only occasionally replaces her. The chicks appear in the same sequence as the eggs were laid, so the second chick is 1 or 2 seconds younger than the first. This difference is quite enough for this younger and weaker chick to be constantly attacked by the older one and lack food. As a result of such competition for food, the youngest chick most often dies of starvation. It is noteworthy that the parents do not react in any way to these antagonistic relationships between the chicks.
During the first 5-6 weeks of the life of the chicks, one of the parents is constantly in the nest (most often the female), and then the adults leave the nest and stay somewhere nearby. The chicks can already tear the food they bring by themselves. After 10-12 weeks, the chicks try to make their first flights, although not always successful. Even having already learned to fly, young eagles still stay for quite a long time (several weeks) on the site of their parents.
Usually, each pair grows no more than one chick.
Lifespan
In nature, bald eagles live up to 18-20 years, in captivity - more, up to about 36 years.
History of life in the Moscow Zoo
Now our zoo has bald eagles both on display in the Birds of Prey Rock aviary in the Old Territory, and in the nursery, where the pair has been breeding regularly since 2010. Only one female has been kept on display so far.
The daily diet of bald eagles (as well as other 2 species of eagles) includes 700-800 g of meat, 200-800 g of fish (depending on the season) and 1 rat.
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a large bird of prey native to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is considered one of the largest predators of the hawk family. The body length of an adult bird is about 71-96 centimeters, the wingspan is about 168-224 centimeters. An adult bald eagle can be easily distinguished by its white head and tail and brown body. The wings are wide and rounded. The tail is wedge-shaped. Paws are yellow, half covered with feathers, with strong short fingers and long (about 5 cm) claws. The claw of the hind toe is well developed, which allows the bird to stick the prey with it, while it holds it with the front fingers.
Bald eagles are professional anglers. Their huge hooked claws and powerful paws are able to hold the most slippery fish, and strong wings help them carry a lot of weight. 
Bald eagles' favorite food is fish, but they often feed on other birds such as ducks and muskrats. They are also not averse to eating carrion, and can take prey from other birds of prey. The sharp beak of the eagle helps him easily tear his prey apart.
Bald eagles build cup-shaped nests on the top of a tall tree with good visibility around, close to open water. The average height at which the nest is located is 20 meters and above, while the width often exceeds 1.5 meters and a depth of about a meter. If there are no trees in the nesting area, in this case the couple settles on the edge of a cliff or on the ground, but in a place that is hard to reach for predators. As a building material 
bald eagles use large tree branches, dry leaves.
Typically, bald eagles have constant pairs; they breed their chicks in the same nests year after year. The emerging chicks are covered with down and helpless; the first two or three weeks, one of the parents is constantly in the nest - mostly the female does this, while the male is engaged in foraging. Chicks compete with each other for access to food, and often the younger ones die of starvation. At about six weeks old, they learn to tear apart pieces of food and jump from branch to branch, and after 9-14 weeks they make their first flight. Having learned to fly, the chicks spend time not far from their parents for another 2-10 weeks, 
after which they dissipate. Bald eagles usually live up to thirty years. When kept in enclosures, they can live for 36 years or more.
The bald eagle is one of the national symbols of the USA. In the first half of the 20th century, the population of the bald eagle was low, but in recent years the threat of extinction of the bald eagle has passed.