Eastern imperial eagle Aquila heliaca

Abstract

Eastern imperial eagles are a short-, medium-distance, partially-migratory, or even non-migratory, raptor that breeds at the forest-steppe interface in Eurasia and winters in Northern Africa, the Middle East or South Asia. Migratory strategies of imperial eagles are diverse. Eagles breeding in Central and Southeast Europe and south of the Black Sea usually are year-round residents or partial- or short- distance migrants that winter in the Balkan Peninsula, Northern Africa, or western parts of the Middle East. Eagles that summer to the east of the Black Sea are usually medium-distance migrants that winter in the Middle East or south Asia. Migration tends to follow topographic features, avoids water-crossings and, especially for young birds, may be intermittent and indirect. Populations of imperial eagles are small, in decline in some parts of the distribution, and the species faces a large number of threats including electrocution, persecution, and capture for sale in markets.