Abstract
In this paper, the historical (i.e. the nineteenth and the early twentieth century) distribution of the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti Brehm, 1861), one of the rarest birds of prey in the world, is analysed. Evidence shows that at the beginning of the present century the range extended over most of the Iberian Peninsula, and the north of Morocco, but was drastically reduced during the last 80 years, the species being lost from Morocco, Portugal, and the borders of its range in Spain (Penibetic Mountains, Levante and north of Guadarrama Mountains). Human persecution, habitat alterations and egg collecting seem to have been the main causes of this decline. There are no reliable data on the breeding of Aquila adalberti in France and Algeria, the available information suggesting that the species which inhabited these countries was Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809.
Published Version
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