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Spanish Imperial Eagle
(Aquila adalberti)
: "Iberian Imperial Eagle", "Spanish Eagle", "Adalbert's Eagle"
 German name(s): "Spanischer Kaiseradler"
Size: 72-85 cm; wing span 1.8-2.2 m
Weight: 3.2-3.9 kg
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Spanish Imperial Eagles are large eagles.
The sexes are alike, although females are both larger and heavier
than males.
The adult
plumage (both front
and back) is mostly dark-grey, with dark-brown edge lining on the
upperwing coverts. The back of the head, from the supercilia
backwards, and hindneck are white, while the inner tail is
light-grey. Also the inner wings have a white leading edge and
prominent "landing light" patches. The outer tail is dark-grey.
The underwing coverts are dark-grey, with slightly lighter grey
flight feathers.
Spanish Imperial Eagles have pale irises. Their strong bill is
light-grey with a dark tip and yellow cere.
The legs are completely feathered; the feet are yellow.
Juveniles are rufous-brown throughout, except for the flight
feathers, which are grey, with white tips and with inconspicuous
grey wing panels. In flight the white tips on the wing feathers
show as neat white bars, once of which is the trailing edge.
Immature
Spanish Imperial Eagles, through 5 moults, become gradually darker
from the juvenile phase, with mottled and streaked parts coalescing
successively into dark-grey
plumage.
Sub-adults have a dark upper body and dark carpal patches
on the underwings.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See
Spanish Imperial Eagle at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Spanish Imperial Eagle is available
HERE
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Spanish Imperial Eagles are endemic to the Iberian peninsula.
Their range extends from Gibraltar in the South in a broad
swathe into the central parts of Spain and beyond. There are
some records of the species in the North of the peninsula
as well, up to the Pyrenees. They usually avoid the Mediterranean
coastal areas as well as Portugal and north-western Spain
(Galicia).
Spanish Imperial Eagles have a preference for mountainous
terrain.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
J. Pires reports finding a
Spanish Imperial Eagle near Mora, Evora, Portugal, in October 2013.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this
page has kindly been contributed by J. Pires.
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Photos |
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Frontal view of a fourth-immature Spanish Imperial Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]
Lateral view of a fourth-immature Spanish Imperial Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]
Dorsal view of a fourth-immature Spanish Imperial Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]
Ventral view of a fourth-immature Spanish Imperial Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]
Ventral view of a fourth-immature Spanish Imperial Eagle
under attack by a Red Kite
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
