Greater spotted eagle
The greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), occasionally just called the spotted eagle, is a large bird of prey. Like all typical eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. In summer it lives in eastern Eurasia, and winters further south.
| Greater spotted eagle | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult wintering at the Tal Chapar Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan, India) | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | Clanga |
| Species: | C. clanga
|
| Binomial name | |
| Clanga clanga (Pallas, 1811)
| |
| |
| Breeding (light green) and wintering (blue) ranges | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Aquila clanga | |
Description
A medium-sized eagle, the greater spotted eagle only has white spots as a juvenile, when they extend in bands across the upperwing. By adulthood, the spots have faded leaving dark brown feathers across the head, body and wings, with slightly paler flight feathers on the upper side. In gliding flight, the greater spotted eagle holds the feathers at the tips of the wings downward.
Greater Spotted Eagle Media
Adult wintering in Oman
A juvenile greater spotted eagle wintering in India exhibits the highly distinct fulvescens morph plumage.
Museum specimen of juvenile
Greater spotted eagles are large raptors and medium-sized eagles.
A characteristic young greater spotted eagle, showing its dark colouring and extensive white wing markings.
Greater spotted eagle in flight, wintering in Israel.
A greater spotted eagle in Karumady, Kerala, India. This species is often at home in wetland-type habitats.
Upperside of adult wintering in Bharatpur (Rajasthan, India).Note the light wing stripes.
Large water-dwelling rodents such as European water voles are significant food for breeding greater spotted eagles, along with smaller upland vole species.
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References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2021). "Clanga clanga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2021: e.T22696027A203868747. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696027A203868747.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.