Himalayas to the Coast: the Diversity of Eagles in India
Eagles are majestic birds of prey that are revered and respected throughout the world. They are powerful hunters, with keen eyesight and sharp talons that make them capable of taking down large prey with ease. In the Indian sub-continent, there are many different species of eagles, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors.
| Name | Scientific Name | Regions | Feature | Habitat | Prey | Type | Endangered? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | India, South Asia | Golden-yellow plumage on its head and neck, and dark brown feathers on its body and wings | Forests, mountains, and grasslands | Small mammals, reptiles, and birds | Large bird | Yes |
| White Tailed Eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | Europe, Asia, and North America | Dark brown body and wings, and a white tail with a dark band at the tip | Coastal and inland areas, including marshes, estuaries, and rivers | Fish, water birds, and small mammals | Large bird | endangered |
| Greater Spotted Eagle | Clanga clanga | Europe, Asia, and Africa | Dark brown body and wings, and a light-colored head and tail | Wetland, forest, and grassland | Small mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds | Large bird | endangered |
| Lesser Spotted Eagle | Clanga pomarina | Europe and Asia | Dark brown body and wings, with a white head, and a light-colored tail | Wetland, grassland, and forest habitats | Small mammals, reptiles, fish, insects, and birds | Medium-sized bird | Decreased population |
| Bonelli’s Eagle | Aquila fasciata | Southern Europe, Africa, and Asia | Dark brown plumage and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head | Woodlands, mountains, and deserts | Small mammals, reptiles, and birds | Large bird | endangered |
| Tawny Eagle | Aquila rapax | Africa and Asia | Dark brown plumage and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head | Savannas, deserts, and mountains | Small mammals, reptiles, carrion, and birds | Large bird | population is declining |
| Steppe Eagle | Aquila nipalensis | Asia and Europe | Dark brown plumage, with a distinctive white patch on the back of its head | Grassland, desert, and mountain | Small mammals, reptiles, carrion, and birds | Large bird | near-threatened |
| Indian Spotted Eagle | Aquila hastata | India and other parts of South Asia | Dark brown plumage with white spots and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head | Wetland, grassland, and forest | Small mammals, reptiles, and birds | Medium-sized bird | endangered |
| Pallas’s Fish Eagle | Haliaeetus leucoryphus | Asia | Dark brown plumage with a white head and tail and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head | Rivers, lakes, and deltas | Fish | Large bird | endangered |
| Crested Serpant Eagle | Spilornis cheela | Asia | Tropical and subtropical forests and grasslands | Tropical and subtropical forests and grasslands | Mammals, birds, and insects | Medium-sized bird | populations are stable |
| Indian Black Eagle | Ictinaetus malayensis | India and other parts of South Asia | Black plumage with a distinctive white patch on the back of its head | Forested habitats | Small mammals, reptiles, and birds | Medium-sized bird | threatened due to loss of habitat |
| White Bellied Sea Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands | White belly and head, with dark brown plumage on its wings and back | Coastal regions, large rivers, and freshwater wetlands | Fish, reptiles, mammals, and birds | Large bird | near threatened |
| South Nicobar Serpent Eagle | Spilornis klossi | Nicobar Islands | Dark brown plumage with a distinctive crest of feathers on its head | Coastal regions | Mammals, birds, and insects | Medium-sized bird | critically endangered |
| Mountain Hawk Eagle | Nisaetus nipalensis | Asia | Dark brown plumage with a distinctive white patch on the back of its head and a crest of feathers on its head | Mountainous regions | Small mammals, reptiles, and birds | Medium-sized bird | Near Threatened |
| Andaman Serpant Eagle | Spilornis elgini | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Dark brown plumage with a distinctive crest of feathers on its head | Coastal regions | Reptiles, specifically snakes | Medium-sized bird | critically endangered |
Indian Golden Eagle
The Indian Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a large bird of prey that is native to India and other parts of South Asia. It has a distinctive golden-yellow plumage on its head and neck, and dark brown feathers on its body and wings. The Indian Golden Eagle is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, mountains, and grasslands. It feeds on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The species is considered to be endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is a large bird of prey that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It has a dark brown body and wings, and a white tail with a dark band at the tip. The White-tailed Eagle has a broad wingspan, which can reach up to 2.5 meters, and it is one of the largest eagles in the world. They are found in coastal and inland areas, including marshes, estuaries, and rivers, where they feed on fish, water birds, and small mammals. The species is considered to be endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and pollution. Populations have recovered well in some parts of Europe and North America but remain critically low in other parts of their range.
Greater Spotted Eagle
The Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) is a large bird of prey that is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It has a dark brown body and wings, and a light-colored head and tail. The Greater Spotted Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 2 meters. It is a migratory species and during the breeding season can be found in wetland, forest, and grassland habitats. They feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds, but also on fish, especially during the non-breeding season. The species is considered to be endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and pollution. Populations have decreased significantly in recent years, and the species is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List.
Lesser Spotted Eagle
The Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is native to Europe and Asia. It has a dark brown body and wings, a white head, and a light-colored tail. The Lesser Spotted Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters. They are typically found in wetland, grassland, and forest habitats and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds, but also on fish and insects. The species is considered to be endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and pollution. Populations have decreased significantly in recent years, and the species is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List.
Bonelli’s Eagle
The Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) is a large bird of prey that is native to Southern Europe, Africa, and Asia. It has dark brown plumage and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head. The Bonelli’s eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 2 meters. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, mountains, and deserts, and they feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The species is considered to be endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and pollution. Populations have decreased in recent years, and the species is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List.
Tawny Eagle
The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a large bird of prey that is native to Africa and Asia. It has dark brown plumage and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head. The Tawny Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 2 meters. They are typically found in semi-arid and arid habitats such as savannas, deserts, and mountains and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. They also scavenge on carrion. The species is not considered endangered, but its population is declining in certain regions due to habitat loss, hunting, and persecution.
Steppe Eagle
The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) is a large bird of prey that is native to Asia and Europe. It has a dark brown plumage, with a distinctive white patch on the back of its head. The Steppe Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 2 meters. They are typically found in grassland, desert, and mountain habitats and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. They also scavenge on carrion. The species is considered to be near-threatened due to habitat loss, hunting, and persecution in certain parts of its range. Populations have decreased in recent years, but conservation efforts have been successful in some areas.
Indian Spotted Eagle
The Indian Spotted Eagle (Aquila hastata) is a bird of prey that is native to India and other parts of South Asia. It has a dark brown plumage with white spots and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head. The Indian Spotted Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 2 meters. They are typically found in wetland, grassland, and forest habitats and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The species is considered to be endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and pollution. Populations have decreased significantly in recent years, and the species is listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
Pallas’s Fish Eagle
The Pallas’s Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) is a large bird of prey that is native to Asia, specifically found in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and deltas in Russia, China, and Southeast Asia. It has dark brown plumage with a white head and tail and a distinctive white patch on the back of its head. The Pallas’s Fish Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 2.5 meters and it feeds mostly on fish, which constitute over 90% of its diet. The species is considered to be endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and pollution. Populations have decreased significantly in recent years, and the species is listed as “endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
Crested Serpant Eagle
The Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is native to Asia, specifically found in tropical and subtropical forests and grasslands. It has dark brown plumage with a distinctive crest of feathers on its head and a white patch on the back of its head. The Crested Serpent Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters and it feeds mostly on reptiles, specifically snakes. They also feed on mammals, birds, and insects. The species is not considered to be endangered and its populations are stable, but it is considered as near threatened due to loss of habitat, hunting and trapping.
Indian Black Eagle
The Indian Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is native to India and other parts of South Asia. As the name suggests, it has black plumage with a distinctive white patch on the back of its head. The Indian Black Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters. They are typically found in forested habitats and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The species is not considered to be endangered but it is considered as near threatened due to loss of habitat, hunting, and trapping.
White Bellied Sea Eagle
The White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) is a large bird of prey that is native to Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. As the name suggests, it has a white belly and head, with dark brown plumage on its wings and back. The White-bellied Sea Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 2.5 meters and it feeds mostly on fish, but also on reptiles, mammals, and birds. They are found along coastal regions and also in large rivers and freshwater wetlands. The species is not considered to be endangered but it is considered as near threatened due to loss of habitat, hunting, and trapping.
South Nicobar Serpent Eagle
The South Nicobar Serpent Eagle (Spilornis klossi) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is native to the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India. It has dark brown plumage with a distinctive crest of feathers on its head. The South Nicobar Serpent Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters and it feeds mostly on reptiles, specifically snakes. They also feed on mammals, birds, and insects. The species is considered to be critically endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and trapping. Its population is estimated to be less than 250 mature individuals and it is considered one of the rarest birds of prey in the world.
Muntain Hawk Eagle
The Mountain Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is native to Asia, specifically found in mountainous regions, such as the Himalayas, and also in tropical and subtropical forests. It has dark brown plumage with a distinctive white patch on the back of its head and a crest of feathers on its head. The Mountain Hawk-eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters and it feeds on a variety of prey, including small mammals, reptiles, and birds. The species is considered to be Near Threatened due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and trapping. Its population is declining in some parts of its range, but it is still relatively widespread and common in others.
Andaman Serpant Eagle
The Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, India. It has dark brown plumage with a distinctive crest of feathers on its head. The Andaman Serpent Eagle has a wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters and it feeds mostly on reptiles, specifically snakes. They also feed on mammals, birds, and insects. The species is considered to be critically endangered due to habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and trapping. Its population is estimated to be less than 250 mature individuals and it is considered one of the rarest birds of prey in the world.