Eastern Imperial Eagle  

Why in News?

Wildlife enthusiasts have recently confirmed the presence of an Eastern Imperial Eagle visiting the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Tamil Nadu during the winter migratory season.

• Scientific name – Aquila heliacal.
• Family – Accipitridae.
• It is a large, powerful bird of prey found across Eurasia, known for its majestic appearance and historical reverence as a "sacred bird" or "cross-bearing eagle.
• Habitat – They prefer forests with tall isolated trees for nesting, also found in steppes, open landscapes, agricultural areas, semideserts and wetlands (especially in winter).
• Geographic Range – They are native to southern Europe, central Asia, and Siberia. In winter, they migrate to northeast Africa (Egypt–Kenya), India, and southeast China.
• Size – It can grow to a length of about 0.92 m, and it can have a wingspan approaching 2.14 m and have a mass of about 3.6 kg.
• Appearance – Similar to Golden Eagle but with a shorter tail and white shoulders that can be hard to spot.
• The underwings are dark with low contrast.
• Adults are dark brown with a golden crown/nape and white scapular “braces.”
• Juveniles are paler, streaked, and often confused with other spotted eagles, but larger and more robust.

• Physical Adaptations – They have strong legs and feet with long, curved talons that they use to seize, kill, and carry prey.
• Reproduction – They begin breeding at around four years of age, forming lifelong monogamous pairs.
• Lifespan – Up to 56 years in the wild and captivity.
• Behaviour – They are mostly solitary, migrate in loose flocks, travel 8,000 km, and fly with heavy wingbeats but are swift when hunting.
• Diet – They are carnivorous, their prey includes small mammals (rabbits, ground squirrels), reptiles (including snakes), birds (ducks, magpies) and occasionally carrion (dead lambs).
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List - Vulnerable
  • CITES - Appendix I
  • Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 - Schedule I
• Threats – Habitat loss, hunting, disturbance, reduced food availability, poison ingestion, and electrocution from power lines.

References

1. The Hindu | Rare Imperial Eagle spotted in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
2. Animal Diversity Web | Eastern Imperial Eagle