What eagles are there

Check out our guide to the best compact binoculars for hikers and birders. Eagles are large and powerful birds of prey. They have hooked beaks, strong legs, and sharp talons. No, hawks are not a type of eagle. Eagles are generally larger, and stronger- and therefore feed on larger prey animals. Eagles can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. You can see the location of each of the species in the tables above.

Learn more about the largest eagles in the world. The smallest eagle is the Great Nicobar Serpent-Eagle. It weighs 1 pound grams and has a body length of Did you know?

Eagles mate for life. Learn about 28 other animals that also mate for life. Squirrels are a favorite food of eagles around the world. Do squirrels eat meat? Do you have a question about a specific eagle? The famous bald eagle , the U. But the original design included another species: An imperial eagle, which is native to southeastern Europe.

It's an important reminder that more than 60 species of eagles live worldwide in every continent but Antarctica. In fact, only two eagle species live in North America—the bald eagle and the golden eagle , which is the national bird of Mexico. Not every species has the fortune of being a national icon, and many are still at risk of extinction. The Spanish imperial eagle of the Iberian Peninsula and the Steller's sea eagle of Russia and parts of Asia are both listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

There are fewer than 5, Steller's sea eagles left on Earth , having declined due to pesticides, overfishing, and human development. Eagles around the world—including the bald eagle—are threatened by ingesting animals which have been shot by lead bullets.

Not all eagles are imperiled, however. The white-tailed , or sea, eagle, has bounced back in Europe after countries banned the pesticide DDT and industrial chemicals known as PCBs. There are now more than 24, in the wild— and they may be posing a new threat to other at-risk birds.

The power and hunting skills of many of these eagle species is impressive. The crowned eagle, considered the most powerful eagle species in Africa, can kill animals more than four times their size. The harpy eagle of South America has five-inch, curling rear claws—larger than grizzly bear claws. In honor of Save the Eagles Day, which occurs annually on January 10, we put together our favorite pictures of the eagles you may not have heard of. All rights reserved.

Cones are light detecting cells that are sensitive to colour. One of the reasons that eagles have better vision than humans is because their retinas, a layer at the back of the eyeball, have more cones. We have , cones per square millimetre, whereas eagles have one million. Eagles are monogamous, so generally mate for life. They have strong site fidelity, so a mating pair tend to reuse the same nest year after year. Nests, composed of sticks, vegetation, and downy feathers, are built by both males and females.

Location of the nest varies with species. Bald eagles for example, most likely nest in tall trees whereas as golden eagles prefer cliff faces or more open areas. The number of eggs laid will depend upon species, but many eagles lay between one and three eggs; four egg clutches do occur, but they are rare.

Eagles are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of the food chain. Eagles can be divided broadly into four groups; sea eagles, booted eagles, snake eagles and giant forest eagles.