Bonelli's Eagle

Danish: Høgeørn Swedish: Hökörn Norwegian: Haukørn Icelandic: Haukörn

Faroese: ? Greenlandic: ? Finnish: ? German: Habichtsadler

French: Aigle de Bonelli Spanish: Aguila perdicera Italian: Aquila del Bonelli Arabic: ?

Adult Bonelli's Eagle. (Photo: Oliver Wensel)

Physical Characteristics: Size: Small to mediumsized eagles. Build: Slim Weight: s. f. fasciatus 1712-2368 g, s. f. spilogaster 1221-1662 g Wings and tail: Long pointed wings. Tail medium long Wingspan: 150-180 cm Colours: Youngs sometimes paler than adults, sometimes darker. Voice: Displaying and near the nest: 'klu-klu-klu-kluee', alarm call: 'ki-ki-ki', exited: 'klueee-klueee', after feeding: 'clek-clek-clek' Easily confused with: Honeybuzzard, Goshawk, Booted eagle Range: Subtropical and northern tropical regions of Europe and Asia. From Spain and Southern France, The Maghreb, Cypres, The Middle East to India, Burma and South China. Population: Declining in its entire breeding range, except Morocco. H. f. fasciatus produces 0,8 young per breeding pair per year, and h. f. spilogaster 0,52. 75% don't survive till breeding age. Thus the eagles in a non-declining population have to live for at least 16 years.

Migration: Non-migratory.

Habitat: Lightly forested country, often montainous, but never over 8000 ft.

Breeding: Breeding season is from december to october depending on the region. Thus the european eagles breed from february to april, the north-african in january, the eagles in the central parts of Africa in may-october, the South-African in june, and the Indian in december-april. Breeding seasons of h. f. fasciatus and h. f. spilogaster are much the same.
   Nuptial displays are circling over the breeding site, plunging steeply downwards, and swooping upwards. At the onset of breeding season the pair soar together over the breeding site, occasionally calling each other.
   Nestbuilding usually takes place in trees and crags. Building a new nest takes months to complete. Repairs are made throughout the breeding season. Onset of breeding season can be identified from new branches and green sprays being brought to the nest. Usually two eggs are laid. Incubation is done by both parents, but most by the female. The male brings food for the female when she is incubating. The eggs hatch after 42-44 days in h. f. spilogaster , and probably the same in other races.
   The fledgling period is about 65 days in h. f. fasciatus and 55-80 days in h. f. spilogaster. In 80% of the eyries one nestling kills the other in the early fledgling period. Brooding is also done mostly by the female.
   The young eagles usually accompanies their parents for 8-10 weeks after they leave the eyrie.

Food: Mammals up to the size of hare and hyrax, large birds (up to approx. 2 kg) as guineafowl and poultry, and reptiles.

Hunting technique: A fast and agile hunter. Hunts from cover in a tree, with a quick attack, by quartering hill slopes like other eagles, or by soaring and stooping. Most prey is taken on the ground, but birds can be taken on the wing.