Different Types Of Eagles

A lot of people are familiar with eagles thanks to their prowess at hunting, enormous wings, and intimidating appearance. However, eagles come in many varieties. This is because they can be found all over the world in different habitats, which affects their hunting styles and their diet. 

Even though they are all members of the same species, they do not all have exactly the same features and appearance. Some types of eagles are far larger than others. While certain types of eagles have much darker coloring than others. In this article, I am going to discuss the different types of eagles that you could come across.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Most of the world’s populations of golden eagles are found in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. They nest near cliffs or the tops of trees, and they can be found in agricultural areas, fields, mountains, and forests. 

These eagles are simple to identify because of the brown and golden coloration near their heads. Their wings can weigh more than 6 kg and have a 2-meter span.

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)

The majority of the harpy eagles are found in Central America and Northern Argentina. However, they can be found everywhere there are rainforests and jungles. These eagles are the largest and most powerful of the gigantic beasts that make up their family.

The Harpy Eagle has feathers that are various shades of white and gray. In addition to this, they are renowned for their ability to catch prey in the air with their almost two-meter-long wings.

Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)

This eagle is a native of the jungles of the Philippines, as its name suggests. These are lesser-known eagles that have white feathers around their heads and a brown and white-hued plumage. 

The Philippine eagle primarily relies on monkeys for sustenance, and is well-known for having impressive wings. Unfortunately, illicit hunting and environmental concerns have led to their current state of extinction.

Bald Eagle

As the United States’ national bird, the Bald Eagle is one of the most well-known eagle species in existence. It can be found all over North America, Mexico, and Canada.

Bald Eagles, which can weigh more than 8 kg, live near forests, rivers, mountains, and marshes. They are highly distinctive, with brown feathers with white feathers on the neck and head.

Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)

The Steller’s sea eagle is one of several sea eagles with North-East Asian origins. They are one of the biggest eagle species to date, second only to the Harpy. You will often find them occupying the Northeast Asian shores. 

Steller’s Sea Eagle is one of the longest sea eagle species. It has a wingspan of almost 2.5 meters. They are easily recognized thanks to their strong yellow beaks and feet. While their body is white with brown plumage.

White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

Northern Europe and Asia’s coasts are home to white-tailed eagles. They are water birds because they are members of the sea eagle family.

The white-tailed eagle has wings that can extend over 2.5 meters. With lighter head plumage, and white feathers on the tail regions. It is common knowledge that these eagles live over 25 years.

Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)

The eagles known as Bonelli’s are native to South East Asia and the Mediterranean region. They have brown coloration with bold brown stripes down the body. They are commonly found near mountainous regions. 

The Bonelli’s wingspan is above 180 cm, and they are over 70 cm long. Recently, a few European nations have flagged the Bonelli as being threatened by poachers and habitat damage.

Black And Chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori)

The South American continent, as well as the nations bordering Venezuela and Argentina, is home to the Black and Chestnut variety of eagle. They live in and near the Andes’ woods and jungles. As their name suggests, Black and Chestnut Eagles have extremely dark-colored plumage alongside black stripes. 

Due to the loss of forests and the consequent reduction in available nesting areas, this type of eagle is one of the species which are in danger of going extinct.

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

Popular names for the Spanish Imperial Eagle include the Iberian Eagle, and are native to the Iberian Peninsula. They are found mainly in coastal and mountainous regions. 

Spanish Imperial Eagles have brown plumage with white bands. These eagles can grow to exceed 80 cm in length and have a wingspan of around 2 meters. Unfortunately, these are currently another species that are at risk of becoming extinct.

Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)

The sub-Saharan parts of Africa are home to the Crowned Eagle, which are found in the region’s lush woodlands. Compared to other eagles, they are substantially smaller and have a wingspan that is about 1.8 meters long. Their plumage is a mixture of an intense red tint alongside cream patches.

They appear to be smaller and a slightly rounder than other eagles. However, these eagles frequently stay within the forests and never travel outside. When it comes to their food, it is known that they feed on mammals. 

Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

The Wedge-Tailed Eagles are native to Southern New Guinea and Australia. They build their nests either on a cliff’s edge or on enormous trees that are around 30 meters in height.

These eagles are one of the biggest eagle species and have reddish-brown feathers. These eagles are unique in that as they age, their feathers become darker.

Final Thoughts

Eagles are powerful creatures and can be found all over the world. There are lots of different types of eagles out there which vary depending on how they hunt, their wing size and plumage coloring. A lot of eagles face extinction due to habitat loss and other factors. 

I hope you have found this article useful. Now you have a better idea on the different types of eagles that are out there and how to identify them.

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