Eagle

General Information -We all know Eagle for his strength and power. Eagle holds top position in the food chain as a predator. There are more than sixty species of Eagle in the world and most of them are found in Africa and Europe.

There are some species commonly found in India and Asian countries such as Indian spotted Eagle. Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with a heavy head and beak. The beak is typically heavier than that of most other birds of prey. Eagles' eyes are extremely powerful, having up to 3.6 time’s human acuity for the martial eagle, which enables them to spot potential prey from a very long distance. This keen eyesight is primarily attributed to their extremely large pupils which ensure minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light. The female of all species of eagle known is larger than the male.

Nest- Eagles normally build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Eagles don’t like human presence near their nests and hence generally the nests are built on very high trees or on the hilly areas where human and other animals can’t reach. The nest is made up of sticks, leaves and tree branches. The size of the nest is large so that nest can accommodate two hatchlings at a time.

Eggs- Generally two eggs are lay by Eagle. They are white in color. Some time only one egg get hatched and other get wasted. Around 37 hours are required for complete hatching and it is reported that the older hatchling will kill and eat the younger one. When there is food and water scarcity, Eagle parents’ hatches only one egg so as to manage the workload of parents.

Food habits- Eagles mostly eat smaller animals like rabbits, turtles, lizards, fish, frogs, snakes, squirrels and other smaller birds.

Life Span- Around 30 years.