The eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a large species of bird of preythat breeds from southeastern Europeto western and central Asia. Most populations are migratory and winter in northeastern Africa, and southern and eastern Asia.[2] The Spanish imperial eagle, found in Spain and Portugal, was formerly lumped with this species, the name imperial eagle being used in both circumstances. However, the two are now regarded as separate species[3]due to significant differences inmorphology,[4] ecology[2] and molecular characteristics.[5][6]Detail of an imperial eagle.Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden
DescriptionEdit
The eastern imperial eagle is a largeeagle with a length of 72–90 cm (28–35 in), a wingspan of 1.8–2.16 m (5.9–7.1 ft) and a weight of 2.45–4.55 kilograms (5.4–10.0 lb). Females are about a quarter larger than males.[2][7][8]It closely resembles the Spanish imperial eagle, but has far less white to the "shoulder" and it is slightly larger.[2]