Eagles

Eagles are characterized from other birds of prey by their heavy head and bill, large wingspan, and powerful build. Eagles were added to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's endangered species list in 1967, though in 2007 they were considered repopulated and removed. The eagle is still protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The eagle is a strong symbol of strength, freedom, and peace in the United States. Since 1782, an American bald eagle has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States. Despite its strongly American connotation, eagles frequently appear on the coat of arms of other nations, including Mexico, Austria, Russia, and Iraq.

African Fish-eagles are indigenous to Africa, ranging over most of continental Africa south of the southern-most edge of the Sahara Desert. Breeding season for African Fish-eagles is during the dry season, when water levels are low. African Fish-eagles are believed to mate for life, and pairs will often maintain two or more nests, which they will frequently re-use.

It is resident from India through southeast Asia to Australia on coasts and major waterways. This large eagle is very distinctive.

The Golden Eagle is one of the large eagles in the genus Aquila, which are distributed almost worldwide.

It is the largest and most powerful raptor found in the Americas, and among the largest extant species of eagles in the world. The Harpy Eagle has a body length of 35 - 41 inches, a 6 1/2 -foot wingspan, and weighs 10 - 20 pounds. The female can be as much as twice as heavy as her mate It usually inhabits tropical lowland rainforests in the upper (emergent) canopy layer.

It breeds in most of Africa both north and south of the Sahara Desert and across tropical southwestern Asia to India. It is a resident breeder which lays 1–3 eggs in a stick nest in a tree, crag or on the ground.

Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah.

This bird breeds on the Kamchatka peninsula, the coastal area around the Sea of Okhotsk, the lower reaches of the Amur river and on northern Sakhalin and the Shantar Islands, Russia. The majority of birds winter further south, in the southern Kuril islands and Hokkaid?, Japan.

This large eagle breeds in northern Europe and northern Asia. The largest population in Europe is found along the coast of Norway. The World population in 2008 stands at only 9,000 - 11,000 pairs.[7] They are mostly resident, only the northernmost birds such as the eastern Scandinavian and Siberian population migrating south in winter.

This eagle is critically endangered, with only 180 to 500 birds surviving. The Philippine Eagle is endemic to the Philippines and can be found on four major islands: eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao. The largest number of eagles resides on Mindanao, with between 82 and 233 breeding pairs present. Only six pairs are found on Samar, two on Leyte, and a few on Luzon. It can be found in Northern Sierra Madre National Park on Luzon and Mount Apo and Mount Kitanglad National Parks on Mindanao.

The Crested Serpent Eagle can be found in a large geographical region from South Asia, including Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, to Southeast Asia, extending to southern China and Indonesia. This forest bird nests in treetops near fresh water. Its nests are constructed with sticks and contain not more than a single egg at a time.

This is a common resident species of the open savanna country in Sub-Saharan Africa. It nests in trees, laying a single egg which is incubated by the female for 42 to 43 days, with a further 90 to 125 days until fledging. Bateleurs pair for life, and will use the same nest for a number of years. Unpaired birds, presumably from a previous clutch, will sometimes help at the nest.