Eagle is the common name for many large
birds of prey of the family
Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of
genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just 14 species can be found—2 in North America, 9 in Central and South America, and 3 in Australia.
Eagles are not a natural group but denote essentially any kind of
bird of prey large enough to hunt sizeable (about 50 cm long or more overall)
vertebrates.
Description
Eagles are large, powerfully-built
birds of prey, with heavy heads and beaks. Even the smallest eagles, such as the
booted eagle
The booted eagle (''Hieraaetus pennatus'', also classified as ''Aquila pennata'') is a medium-sized mostly migratory bird of prey with a wide distribution in the Palearctic and southern Asia, wintering in the tropics of Africa and Asia, with a ...
(''Aquila pennata''), which is comparable in size to a
common buzzard (''Buteo buteo'') or
red-tailed hawk (''B. jamaicensis''), have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight – despite the reduced size of aerodynamic feathers. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from some
vultures. The smallest species of eagle is the
South Nicobar serpent eagle (''Spilornis klossi''), at and . The largest species are discussed below. Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large hooked
beaks for ripping flesh from their prey, strong, muscular legs, and powerful
talons.
The beak is typically heavier than that of most other birds of prey. Eagles' eyes are extremely powerful. It is estimated that the
martial eagle, whose eyes are more than two times larger than the human eye, has a
visual acuity up to 8 times that of humans. This acuity enables eagles 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 known species of eagles is larger than the male.
Eagles normally build their nests, called
eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. The parents take no action to stop the killing.
It is said that eagles fly above clouds but this is not true. Eagles fly during storms and glide from the winds pressure. This saves the bird's energy.
Due to the size and power of many eagle species, they are ranked at the top of the food chain as
apex predators in the avian world. The type of prey varies by genus. The ''
Haliaeetus'' and ''
Ichthyophaga'' eagles prefer to capture fish, though the species in the former often capture various animals, especially other
water birds, and are powerful
kleptoparasites of other birds. The snake and serpent eagles of the genera ''
Circaetus'', ''
Terathopius'', and ''
Spilornis'' predominantly prey on the great diversity of
snake
Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...
s found in the tropics of Africa and Asia. The eagles of the genus ''
Aquila
Aquila may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Aquila'', a series of books by S.P. Somtow
* ''Aquila'', a 1997 book by Andrew Norriss
* ''Aquila'' (children's magazine), a UK-based children's magazine
* ''Aquila'' (journal), an or ...
'' are often the top birds of prey in open habitats, taking almost any medium-sized
vertebrate
Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxon, taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () (chordates with vertebral column, backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the ...
they can catch. Where ''Aquila'' eagles are absent, other eagles, such as the
buteonine black-chested buzzard-eagle of South America, may assume the position of top raptorial predator in open areas. Many other eagles, including the species-rich genus ''
Spizaetus'', live predominantly in woodlands and forests. These eagles often target various arboreal or ground-dwelling mammals and birds, which are often unsuspectingly ambushed in such dense, knotty environments. Hunting techniques differ among the species and genera, with some individual eagles having engaged in quite varied techniques based on their environment and prey at any given time. Most eagles grab prey without landing and take flight with it, so the prey can be carried to a perch and torn apart.
The
bald eagle is noted for having flown with the heaviest load verified to be carried by any flying bird, since one eagle flew with a
mule deer fawn. However, a few eagles may target prey considerably heavier than themselves; such prey is too heavy to fly with, thus it is either eaten at the site of the kill or taken in pieces back to a perch or nest.
Golden and
crowned eagles have killed
ungulates weighing up to and a
martial eagle even killed a
duiker, 7–8 times heavier than the preying eagle.
Authors on birds David Allen Sibley, Pete Dunne, and Clay Sutton described the behavioral difference between hunting eagles and other birds of prey thus (in this case the bald and golden eagles as compared to other North American raptors):
They have at least one singular characteristic. It has been observed that most birds of prey look back over their shoulders before striking prey (or shortly thereafter); predation is after all a two-edged sword. All hawks seem to have this habit, from the smallest kestrel to the largest Ferruginous – but not the Eagles.
Among the eagles are some of the largest birds of prey: only the condors and some of the Old World vultures are markedly larger. It is regularly debated which should be considered the largest species of eagle. They could be measured variously in total length, body mass, or wingspan. Different lifestyle needs among various eagles result in variable measurements from species to species. For example, many forest-dwelling eagles, including the very large harpy eagle, have relatively short wingspans, a feature necessary for being able to maneuver in quick, short bursts through densely forested habitats. Eagles in the genus ''Aquila'', found almost exclusively in open country, are noted for their ability to soar, and have relatively long wings for their size.[
These lists of the top five eagles are based on weight, length, and wingspan, respectively. Unless otherwise noted by reference, the figures listed are the median reported for each measurement in the guide ''Raptors of the World'' in which only measurements that could be personally verified by the authors were listed.][
]
Habitat
The eagles are generally distributed in all types of habitats and nearly all parts of the world. The birds can be found in northern tundra to tropical rainforests and deserts. In North America, bald eagles and golden eagles are very common.
The other nine species are endemic to Central and South America. The birds have a highly concentrated population in the Africa and eastern hemisphere. Several islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans are also rich and have distinct species of eagles.
Distribution
*Australasian
Australasian is the adjectival form of Australasia, a geographical region including Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continen ...
** Australia: wedge-tailed eagle (range extends into southern New Guinea), white-bellied sea-eagle (range extends into Asia), little eagle.
** New Guinea: Papuan eagle, white-bellied sea-eagle, pygmy eagle.
* Nearctic (USA and Canada): golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known birds ...
(also found in Palearctic), bald eagle.
* Neotropical (Central and South America): '' Spizaetus'' (four species), solitary eagles (two spp.), harpy eagle, crested eagle, black-chested buzzard-eagle.
*Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa.
The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Si ...
**Eurasia
Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelag ...
: Golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known birds ...
, White-tailed eagle.
*Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
: African fish eagle, Martial Eagle, Crowned eagle, Verreaux's eagle, Tawny eagle, Long-crested eagle
The long-crested eagle (''Lophaetus occipitalis'') is an African bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. It is currently placed in a monotypic genus ''Lophaetus''. It is characterized by the feathers making up the shaggy ...
Groups
Eagles are often informally divided into four groups.[ from ]
The snake eagles are placed in the subfamily Circaetinae. The fish eagles, booted eagles, and harpy eagles have traditionally been placed in the subfamily Buteoninae together with the buzzard-hawks (buteonine hawks) and harriers. Some authors may treat these groups as tribes of the Buteoninae; Lerner & Mindell proposed separating the eagle groups into their own subfamilies of Accipitridae.
Fish eagles
Sea eagles or fish eagles take fish as a large part of their diets, either fresh or as carrion.
Proposed subfamily Haliaeetinae. Genera: '' Haliaeetus'', '' Ichthyophaga''.
Some authors include ''Gypohierax angolensis'', the "vulturine fish eagle" (also called the palm-nut vulture) in this group. However, genetic analyses indicate it is related to a grouping of ''Neophron''–''Gypaetus''–''Eutriorchis'' ( Egyptian vulture, bearded vulture (lammergeier), and Madagascar serpent eagle).
The fish eagles have a close genetic relationship with '' Haliastur'' and '' Milvus''; the whole group is only distantly related to the ''Buteo'' group.
Booted eagles
Booted eagles or "true eagles" have feathered tarsi (lower legs).
Tribe Aquililae or proposed subfamily Aquilinae. Genera: ''Aquila'', ''Hieraaetus''; ''Spizaetus'', ''Oroaetus'', ''Spizastur''; ''Nisaetus''; ''Ictinaetus'', ''Lophoaetus''; ''Polemaetus''; and ''Stephanoaetus''.
See comments under eagle species for changes to the composition of these genera.
Snake eagles
Most snake or serpent eagles, as the name suggests, primarily prey on snakes.
* Subfamily Circaetinae. Genera: ''Circaetus'', ''Spilornis'', ''Dryotriorchis'', ''Terathopius''.
* ''Eutriorchis'' (subfamily Gypaetinae or Circaetinae).
Despite filling the niche of a snake eagle, genetic studies suggest that the Madagascar serpent eagle (''Eutriorchis'') is not related to them.
Harpy eagles
Harpy eagles or "giant forest eagles" are large eagles that inhabit tropical forests. The group contains two to six species, depending on the author. Although these birds occupy similar niches and have traditionally been grouped, they are not all related: the solitary eagles are related to the black hawks and the Philippine eagle to the snake eagles.
* Harpy eagles (proposed subfamily Harpiinae)
** ''Harpia harpyja'', harpy eagle ― Central and South America.
** ''Morphnus guianensis'', crested eagle ― Central and South America.
** ''Harpyopsis novaeguineae'', Papuan eagle ― New Guinea.
* Philippine eagle
** ''Pithecophaga jefferyi'', Philippine eagle ― Philippines.
* Solitary eagles
** Chaco eagle or crowned solitary eagle, '' Buteogallus'' (formerly '' Harpyhaliaetus'') ''coronatus'' ― South America.
** Solitary eagle
The solitary eagle or montane solitary eagle (''Buteogallus solitarius'') is a large Neotropical eagle. It is also known as the black solitary eagle.
Range and habitat
The solitary eagle is native to Mexico and Central and South America. It i ...
or montane solitary eagle, '' Buteogallus'' (formerly '' Harpyhaliaetus'') ''solitarius'' ― South America.
Species
Major new research into eagle taxonomy suggests that the important genera ''Aquila'' and ''Hieraaetus'' are not composed of nearest relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these genera will soon take place, with some species being moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus''.
*Bonelli's eagle
The Bonelli's eagle (''Aquila fasciata'') is a large bird of prey. The common name of the bird commemorates the Italian ornithologist and collector Franco Andrea Bonelli. Bonelli is credited with gathering the type specimen, most likely from an ...
and the African hawk-eagle have been moved from ''Hieraaetus'' to ''Aquila''.
*Either the greater spotted eagle and lesser spotted eagle should move from ''Aquila'' to join the long-crested eagle
The long-crested eagle (''Lophaetus occipitalis'') is an African bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. It is currently placed in a monotypic genus ''Lophaetus''. It is characterized by the feathers making up the shaggy ...
in ''Lophaetus'', or, perhaps better, all three of these species should move to ''Ictinaetus'' with the black eagle.
*The steppe eagle and tawny eagle, once thought to be conspecific, are not even each other's nearest relatives.
Family Accipitridae
*Subfamily Buteoninae – hawks (buzzards), true eagles and seaeagles
**Genus ''Geranoaetus''
*** Black-chested buzzard-eagle, ''Geranoaetus melanoleucus''
**Genus '' Harpyhaliaetus''
*** Chaco eagle, ''Harpyhaliaetus coronatus''
***Solitary eagle
The solitary eagle or montane solitary eagle (''Buteogallus solitarius'') is a large Neotropical eagle. It is also known as the black solitary eagle.
Range and habitat
The solitary eagle is native to Mexico and Central and South America. It i ...
, ''H. solitarius''
**Genus ''Morphnus''
*** Crested eagle, ''Morphnus guianensis''
**Genus ''Harpia''
*** Harpy eagle, ''Harpia harpyja''
**Genus ''Pithecophaga''
*** Philippine eagle, ''Pithecophaga jefferyi''
**Genus ''Harpyopsis''
*** Papuan eagle, ''Harpyopsis novaeguineae''
**Genus '' Spizaetus''
*** Black hawk-eagle, ''S. tyrannus''
*** Ornate hawk-eagle, ''S. ornatus''
*** Black-and-white hawk-eagle, ''S. melanoleucus'' – formerly ''Spizastur''
*** Black-and-chestnut eagle, ''S. isidori'' – formerly ''Oroaetus''
**Genus '' Nisaetus'' – previously included in ''Spizaetus''
***Changeable hawk-eagle
The changeable hawk-eagle ''(Nisaetus cirrhatus)'' or crested hawk-eagle is a large bird of prey species of the family Accipitridae. More informal or antiquated English common names include the marsh hawk-eagle or Indian crested hawk-eagle.Ferg ...
, ''N. cirrhatus''
**** Flores hawk-eagle ''N. floris'' – earlier a subspecies, ''S. c. floris''
***Sulawesi hawk-eagle
The Sulawesi hawk-eagle (''Nisaetus lanceolatus'') (earlier placed under ''Spizaetus''), also known as Celebes hawk-eagle, is a medium-sized, approximately long, crestless brown raptor in the family Accipitridae. The adults have rufous-brown, bo ...
, ''N. lanceolatus''
*** Mountain hawk-eagle, ''N. nipalensis''
****Legge's hawk-eagle
William Vincent Legge, Legge's hawk-eagle (''Nisaetus kelaarti'') is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. It breeds in the Indian subcontinent, from southern India to Sri Lanka. Its specific name (zoology), specific ...
, ''Nisaetus kelaarti'' – previously a race of ''S. nipalensis''
*** Blyth's hawk-eagle, ''N. alboniger''
***Javan hawk-eagle
The Javan hawk-eagle (''Nisaetus bartelsi'') is a medium-sized, dark brown raptor in the family Accipitridae. It is the national bird of Indonesia, where it is commonly referred to as Garuda, from the bird-like creatures in Hindu and Buddhist my ...
, ''N. bartelsi''
***(Northern) Philippine hawk-eagle, ''N. philippensis''
**** Pinsker's hawk-eagle (Southern Philippine hawk-eagle), ''Nisaetus pinskeri'' – earlier ''S. philippensis pinskeri''
***Wallace's hawk-eagle
Wallace's hawk-eagle (''Nisaetus nanus'') is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in Kra Isthmus, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is ...
, ''N. nanus''
**Genus ''Lophaetus''
***Long-crested eagle
The long-crested eagle (''Lophaetus occipitalis'') is an African bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. It is currently placed in a monotypic genus ''Lophaetus''. It is characterized by the feathers making up the shaggy ...
, ''Lophaetus occipitalis'' – possibly belongs in ''Ictinaetus''
**Genus ''Stephanoaetus''
*** Crowned eagle, ''Stephanoaetus coronatus''
***Malagasy crowned eagle
The Malagasy crowned eagle (''Stephanoaetus mahery''), also known as the Madagascar crowned hawk-eagle, is an extinct large bird of prey endemic to Madagascar.
It has been proposed that this bird, combined with elephant bird eggs, were the sou ...
, ''Stephanoaetus mahery''
**Genus ''Polemaetus''
*** Martial eagle, ''Polemaetus bellicosus''
**Genus '' Hieraaetus''
*** Ayres's hawk-eagle, ''H. ayresii''
*** Little eagle, ''H. morphnoides''
*** Pygmy eagle, ''H. weiskei'' – previously subspecies ''H. m. weiskei''
***Booted eagle
The booted eagle (''Hieraaetus pennatus'', also classified as ''Aquila pennata'') is a medium-sized mostly migratory bird of prey with a wide distribution in the Palearctic and southern Asia, wintering in the tropics of Africa and Asia, with a ...
, ''H. pennatus''
*** Haast's eagle, †H. moorei
**Genus ''Lophotriorchis''
***Rufous-bellied eagle
The rufous-bellied eagle or rufous-bellied hawk-eagle (''Lophotriorchis kienerii'') is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae that is found in the forested regions of tropical Asia. Relatively small for eagles and contrastingly patterned like ...
, ''L. kienerii''
**Genus ''Aquila
Aquila may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Aquila'', a series of books by S.P. Somtow
* ''Aquila'', a 1997 book by Andrew Norriss
* ''Aquila'' (children's magazine), a UK-based children's magazine
* ''Aquila'' (journal), an or ...
''
***Bonelli's eagle
The Bonelli's eagle (''Aquila fasciata'') is a large bird of prey. The common name of the bird commemorates the Italian ornithologist and collector Franco Andrea Bonelli. Bonelli is credited with gathering the type specimen, most likely from an ...
, ''Aquila fasciata'' – formerly ''Hieraaetus fasciatus''
*** African hawk-eagle, ''A. spilogaster'' – formerly in ''Hieraaetus''
*** Cassin's hawk-eagle, ''A. africana'' – formerly in ''Hieraaetus'' or ''Spizaetus'' genera
***Golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known birds ...
, ''A. chrysaetos''
*** Eastern imperial eagle, ''A. heliaca''
*** Spanish imperial eagle ''A. adalberti''
*** Steppe eagle, ''A. nipalensis''
*** Tawny eagle, ''A. rapax''
*** Greater spotted eagle, ''A. clanga'' – to be moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus''
*** Lesser spotted eagle, ''A. pomarina'' – to be moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus''
***Indian spotted eagle
The Indian spotted eagle (''Clanga hastata'') is a large bird of prey native to South Asia. Like all typical eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. The typical eagles are often united with the buteos, sea eagles and other more heavys ...
, ''A. hastata'' – to be moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus''
*** Verreaux's eagle, ''A. verreauxii''
***Gurney's eagle
Gurney's eagle (''Aquila gurneyi'') is a large eagle in the family Accipitridae. It is found in New Guinea and Wallacea, and is an occasional vagrant to Australia.
The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the British banker and amateur ...
, ''A. gurneyi''
*** Wahlberg's eagle, ''A. wahlbergi'' – to be moved to ''Hieraaetus''
*** Wedge-tailed eagle, ''A. audax''
**Genus ''Ictinaetus''
*** Black eagle, ''Ictinaetus malayensis''
**Genus '' Haliaeetus''
*** White-tailed eagle, ''Haliaeetus albicilla''
*** Bald eagle, ''H. leucocephalus''
*** Steller's sea eagle, ''H. pelagicus''
*** African fish eagle, ''H. vocifer''
*** White-bellied sea eagle, ''H. leucogaster''
*** Sanford's sea eagle, ''H. sanfordi''
*** Madagascar fish eagle, ''H. vociferoides''
*** Pallas' sea eagle, ''H. leucoryphus''
**Genus '' Ichthyophaga''
*** Lesser fish eagle, ''Ichthyophaga humilis''
*** Grey-headed fish eagle, ''I. ichthyaetus''
*Subfamily Circaetinae: snake-eagles
**Genus ''Terathopius''
*** Bateleur, ''Terathopius ecaudatus''
**Genus '' Circaetus''
*** Short-toed snake eagle, ''Circaetus gallicus''
*** Beaudouin's snake eagle, ''Circaetus beaudouini''
***Black-chested snake eagle
The black-chested snake eagle or black-breasted snake eagle (''Circaetus pectoralis'') is a large African bird of prey of the family Accipitridae. It resembles other snake eagles and was formerly considered conspecific with the short-toed and B ...
, ''C. pectoralis''
***Brown snake eagle
The brown snake eagle (''Circaetus cinereus'') is a fairly large species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in West, East and southern Africa. This species is an almost obligate predator of a variety of snakes. A very solitar ...
, ''C. cinereus''
*** Fasciated snake eagle, ''C. fasciolatus''
*** Western banded snake eagle, ''C. cinerascens''
**Genus '' Dryotriorchis''
*** Congo serpent eagle, ''D. spectabilis''
**Genus '' Spilornis''
*** Crested serpent eagle, ''Spilornis cheela''
**** Central Nicobar serpent eagle, ''S. minimus'' (subspecies or species)
*** Great Nicobar serpent eagle, ''S. klossi''
*** Mountain serpent eagle, ''S. kinabaluensis''
***Sulawesi serpent eagle
The Sulawesi serpent eagle (''Spilornis rufipectus'') is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
References
Spil ...
, ''S. rufipectus''
*** Philippine serpent eagle, ''S. holospilus''
*** Andaman serpent eagle, ''S. elgini''
**Genus ''Eutriorchis''
*** Madagascar serpent eagle, ''Eutriorchis astur''
In culture
Etymology
The modern English term for the bird is derived from la, aquila
Aquila may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Aquila'', a series of books by S.P. Somtow
* ''Aquila'', a 1997 book by Andrew Norriss
* ''Aquila'' (children's magazine), a UK-based children's magazine
* ''Aquila'' (journal), an or ...
by way of french: aigle. The origin of is unknown, but it is believed to possibly derive from (meaning dark-colored, swarthy, or blackish) as a reference to the plumage of eagles.
Old English used the term , related to Scandinavia's '' ørn/örn Orn and Örn is an Icelandic name.
It may refer to:
People with the given name
*Örn Arnarson (born 1981), Icelandic swimmer
*Örn Árnason (born 1959), Icelandic actor, comedian and screenwriter
* Örn Clausen (1928–2008), Icelandic decathle ...
''. It is similar to other Indo-European
The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the overwhelming majority of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and the northern Indian subcontinent. Some European languages of this family, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, ...
terms for "bird" or "eagle", including el, ὄρνις (), russian: орёл (), and cy, eryr.
In the southern part of Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bo ...
, near the Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland ( fi, Suomenlahti; et, Soome laht; rus, Фи́нский зали́в, r=Finskiy zaliv, p=ˈfʲinskʲɪj zɐˈlʲif; sv, Finska viken) is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland to the north and E ...
, is the town of Kotka, which literally means "eagle", while the town of L'Aquila in the central part of Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
literally means "the eagle".
In Britain before 1678, ''eagle'' referred specifically to the golden eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known birds ...
, with the other native species, the white-tailed eagle, being known as ''erne''. The modern name "golden eagle" for ''aquila chrysaetos'' was introduced by the naturalist John Ray.
The village of Eagle in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershir ...
, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
, has nothing to do with the bird; its name is derived from the Old English words for "oak" and "wood" (compare ''Oakley'').
Religion and spirituality
In ancient Sumerian mythology
Sumerian religion was the religion practiced by the people of Sumer, the first literate civilization of ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians regarded their divinities as responsible for all matters pertaining to the natural and social orders.
Ov ...
, the mythical king Etana was said to have been carried into heaven
Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the bel ...
by an eagle. Classical writers such as Lucan and Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic ...
claimed that the eagle was able to look directly at the sun, and that they forced their fledglings to do the same. Those that blinked would be cast from the nest. This belief persisted until the Medieval era.
The eagle is the patron animal of the ancient Greek god Zeus
Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=genitive Boeotian Aeolic and Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=genitive el, Δίας, ''Días'' () is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, ...
. In particular, Zeus was said to have taken the form of an eagle in order to abduct Ganymede, and there are numerous artistic depictions of the eagle Zeus bearing Ganymede aloft, from Classical times up to the present (see illustrations in the Ganymede (mythology) page.)
Psalm 103 (in Greek, Latin, and English) mentions renewing one's youth "as the eagle" (although the Hebrew word נשר apparently means vulture). Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North A ...
gives a curious explanation of this in his commentary on the Psalms.
An eagle is a common form in the Anglican tradition, often used to support the Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts o ...
because of the symbolism of spreading the gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
over the world. Additional symbolic meanings for "eagle" include the pronouncements to the Israelites
The Israelites (; , , ) were a group of Semitic-speaking tribes in the ancient Near East who, during the Iron Age, inhabited a part of Canaan.
The earliest recorded evidence of a people by the name of Israel appears in the Merneptah Stele o ...
in Exodus
Exodus or the Exodus may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible
* The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan
Historical events
* Exo ...
19:4; Psalms
The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived f ...
103:5 and Isaiah 40:31.
The United States eagle feather law
In the United States, the eagle feather law provides many exceptions to federal wildlife laws regarding eagles and other migratory birds to enable Native Americans to continue their traditional, spiritual and cultural practices.
Under the cu ...
stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual reasons. In Canada, the poaching of eagle feathers for the booming U.S. market has sometimes resulted in the arrests of First Nations person for the crime.
The Moche people of ancient Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
worshiped the eagle and often depicted eagles in their art.
While every Native American tribe has their own set of customs and beliefs, one thing virtually every tribe has in common is a reverence for eagles. Native Americans view them as powerful medicine animals that represent bravery, honor, and insight. In addition, because eagles have the ability to fly, many tribes view them as having a connection to the Creator and possessing the ability to communicate with both the physical and supernatural worlds. In fact, the mythical Native American bird, the thunderbird, is based on the eagle and yet is considered to have even greater powers.
For Native Americans, eagle feathers are also sacred. Eagles and their feathers are protected under federal law
Federal law is the body of law created by the federal government of a country. A federal government is formed when a group of political units, such as states or provinces join in a federation, delegating their individual sovereignty and many ...
. However, Native Americans with certified ancestry are permitted to obtain and use eagle feathers in spiritual ceremonies. Traditionally, when a warrior displayed bravery in a battle, he was given an eagle feather. Hence, the iconic headdresses worn by the plains tribes that contained many eagle feathers represented a brave and powerful warrior. In addition, Native Americans believe that if a person finds an eagle feather on the ground, it is a gift from the Sky and the Earth.
Heraldry
Eagles are an exceptionally common symbol in heraldry, being considered the "King of Birds" in contrast to the lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
, the "King of Beasts". Whereas the lion (e.g. England) usually represents authority, the eagle is the symbol of power. They are particularly popular in Germanic countries such as Austria, due to their association with the Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a political entity in Western, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.
From the accession of Otto I in 962 ...
. The eagle of the Holy Roman Empire was two-headed, supposedly representing the two divisions, East and West, of the old Roman Empire. This motif, derived from the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire was also adopted by the Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...
and is still featured in the Flag of Albania. The Roman eagle was preceded by the eagle of Ptolemaic Egypt and the Achaemenid Empire
The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; peo, 𐎧𐏁𐏂, , ), also called the First Persian Empire, was an ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Based in Western Asia, it was contemporarily the largest em ...
. In the coat of arms of Kotka, Finland, the eagle is depicted carrying an anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal , used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ''ancora'', which itself comes from the Greek ...
and the caduceus on its feet.
Heraldic eagles are most often found ''displayed'', i.e. with their wings and legs extended. They can also occur ''close'', i.e. with their wings folded, or ''rising'', i.e. about to take flight. The heads, wings, and legs of eagles can also be found independently.
Notes
References
External links
PBS Nature: Eagles
Eagle photos
on Oriental Bird Images
Eagle videos
on the Internet Bird Collection
Web of the Conservation Biology Team-Bonelli's Eagle, of the University of Barcelona
Decorah Eagles: 24/7 Live Webcam from The Raptor Resource Project
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Accipitridae
Apex predators
Bird common names
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