The Eagles are the largest bird of prey, that form the climax of the food series. Their physically powerful talons, wide wings and meat-cleaver bill, make these birds the most excellent predators. All the eagle kinds come from the Accipitridae family, but each kind differs from the other. There are about 60 types of eagle species that come from Buteoninae and Circaetinae sub-families. They are monogamous and keep up their nests for several years. Both the parents take turns to hatch the eggs and keep close to the chicks till they become independent. In case of insufficiency of food, the principal chick often preys on its younger siblings. Even the parents abstain from interfering the killing. Their keen eyesight, enables them to spot distant preys, while their claws provide them with a strong grip. This transcendence birds even have the force to carry weighty preys, while they sore high up in the sky. Eagles can even glide and float into the air for long hours, due to their wide wingspan. A few kinds of eagles that come from different genera with some amazing distinctiveness are mentioned below:
1. Bald Eagle
The pure white crown on the bird, looks like it has a bald head, therefore, this bird of prey is generally known as the Bald Eagle America’s national bird and symbol has a brownish plumage with a pure white head and yellow hooked beak. Females are bigger and heavier than males. A bald eagle reaches its sexual maturity when it becomes five year old. The call is considered to be harsh and piercing. When left to survive in the wild, a Bald eagle can live up to 20 years. It glides at a speed of 35-43 miles per hour (56-70 km per hour) and dives at 75-99 miles per hour (120-160 km per hour). Bald eagles have a preference living close to water and travel to the coast in order to obtain food during winters.
2. Bateleur Eagle
Bateleur eagle is the national symbol of Zimbabwe. The head of the Bateleur eagle is black. It has red soft skin on its cheeks and the tip of the beak is black. The back of the bird is orange in color and its wings is a combine of brown, white and black. These eagles companion for life and remain faithful with each other. In case of loss of one of the friend, the bird will go on to find another friend. Females lay single egg and incubates it for 42 to 43 days. Other birds from the family will also occasionally guard the unattended nests. A Bateleur eagle is a silent bird, but at times it can create barks and several different sounds.
3. Black Chest Buzzard Eagle
The Black chested buzzard eagle is also identified as Grey Buzzard eagle or Chilean Blue eagle. The bird has a gigantic plumage and is heavier and strong compared to the other eagles. The color of the plumage is gray, which has brownish and bluish tinge to it. The chest is black with small white dots on it. Black chested buzzard eagle has a short blackish tail. Trees and cliffs are common places for nesting. However, the bird has well adapted to nesting in cacti and bushes. This kind of eagles make new nests and execute their courtship formal procedure in flight. Well thought-out to be a lonely eagle, it has a intelligent vision and floats on thermal currents. With its sharp eyesight, black chested buzzard eagle can very well guard its territory.
4. Fish Eagle
There are about 6 kinds of fish eagle; Madagascar Fish eagle, Sanford’s Fish eagle, Lesser Fish eagle,African Fish eagle, Grey-headed Fish eagle and Pallas’ Fish eagle. This one however, is the African Fish eagle, which is the national bird of Zimbabwe and Zambia. The head and the chest of this eagle is enclosed under white feathers. It has a yellow face with dark brown eyes. African fish eagle is monogamous and makes about 2 and more nests. Female lays up to 3 eggs and incubates for 45 days. Both male and female take turns and incubates the eggs. Siblicide is often the trouble in case of insufficiency of food. The chicks generally venture out once they develop feathers and are able to hound their own food.
5. Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle has gigantic brown wings with a slight gray tinge to its tail. Some of the subspecies of Golden eagle are stretched over North America, Japan, Korea and North Africa. The Golden eagle is dark brown in color and has patches of light brown feathers on its head and wings. Golden eagles are very alert and have very physically powerful talons. The nests are made on the cliffs and trees and are re-used for every nesting season. Female lay about 4 eggs and incubates them. The chicks are fed for 50 days and nurtured till they become independent enough to fly and hunt their own food. Golden eagles can uphold a area up to 60 sq miles (or 155 sq km) and can watch it competently too.
6. Martial Eagle
The head and the chest of the martial eagle are dark in color. Its lower body is white with small black spots on it. Females are bigger compared to males. The Martial eagle is heavy in size and can be compared with the Golden, Crowned and Verreaux’s eagles. This prey of bird prefers living in the open areas of desert . However, during the nesting season the bird nestles in trees. Their nests are huge in size with 3 feet deep and 2 m wide. The females will lay a 1 or 2 eggs in two years and incubates them for 45 days. Before taking plunging on to their prey, Martial eagles mark their area by rotating in flight. Presently the bird is in danger owing to hunting and loss of environment.
7. Stellers Sea Eagle
It is known as as the heaviest eagles, a Stellers sea eagle weighs around 19 lbs (9kg). There are two kinds of Stellers sea eagle that is Haliaeetus pelagicus and H. p. niger. Its head and back are black in color and its tail and legs are white. Wings are white at the top, while the remaining portion is black. It has a dark yellow hooked beak which enables it to slash apart the flesh of its prey. The Stellers sea eagle has yellow feet with powerful and sharp toes. procreation is observed during the months of February and March. They construct huge nests in the trees and lay eggs in April. Eggs are incubated for 39 days. The Steller sea eagle’s chicks are ash gray and white colored. This bird of prey develop its sexual maturity at the age of five.
8. White Tailed Eagle
Rated as the fourth largest bird of prey, White Tailed eagle have the age of 25 years. The plumage is a combination of brown shades, the head and neck area are paler. The white tail is the distinguishing characteristic of this eagle and that is why it is called White tailed eagle. Their aerial courtship is a sight to watch as they lock in their talons and roll downwards in cartwheels. White Tailed eagles mate for life. The nests are gigantic, which are made of sticks and are built on trees or cliffs. The nests are reused by other White Tailed eagles for years to breed and take care of their chicks. Female lays about three eggs every year, which are incubated for 38 days. The chicks grow faster and fledge at twelve weeks. Till the time the chicks become independent they stay in the surrounding area of their parents.
