24 Interesting Facts About Eagles

1. Eagle is a famous bird of prey. Around 60 species of this bird are present in all continents except Antarctica.
2. The largest species of eagle is Steller’s sea eagle. It has a wingspan of 2.2 to 2.45 m and weighs 5 to 9 kg. It is primarily present in Russia, alongside Japan and Korea. It is a protected species in Russia and a national symbol in Japan. (Source)
3. The South Nicobar serpent eagle is the smallest species of eagle. It has a body length of 15 to 17 in. (38 to 42 cm) and can attain a weight of 450 g (0.99 lb). It is present on a few islands in the Nicobar archipelago in the Bay of Bengal.
4. Several species of eagles are extremely powerful. They can carry even animals of medium size thanks to their strong claws, beak, and talons. There are also reports of African crowned eagles killing and eating human children. (Source)
5. There are several types of eagles according to their food and other characteristics. Fish (or sea) eagles and snake (or serpent) eagles mainly eat fish and snakes, respectively. Harpy eagles are named after a half-woman and half-eagle Greek mythological character, harpy.
6. Various species of eagles are national symbols. These include the golden eagle (Austria, Germany, Albania, Mexico, Serbia, and Kazakhstan), African fish eagle (Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia), bald eagle (USA), Philippine eagle (Philippines), white-tailed eagle (Poland), and the Javan hawk-eagle (Indonesia).
7. The Dutch police are using eagles to bring down illegal drones. These sea eagles catch drones by considering them as prey. It is the first time a country employing birds to seize drones for public safety. (Source)
8. The most prominent difference between male and female eagles is their size. Female eagles are generally one-third larger than their male counterparts. Females have larger beaks, talons, feathers, and feet compared to males of the same population.
9. Eagles have one of the best eye visions in the animal kingdom. They get an almost panoramic view of 340 degrees thanks to the position of their eyes. Compared to a single fovea with 200,000 cones per mm in each human eye, eagles have two foveae with millions of cones per mm per eye. It assists them in achieving exceptional clarity and sharpness in distance vision. As compared to 20/20 vision in humans, eagles have 20/5 vision. They can also see ultraviolet (UV) and other colors humans can’t see. (Source)
10. Eagles usually lay 1 to 3 eggs in a clutch. If there is more than one eaglet, the strongest may kill others. This behavior is present in several species, including golden eagles, bald eagles, and booted eagles. Parents do nothing to stop this fratricide.
11. Eagles are pure carnivores that eat various animals according to their habitat. Their food includes small mammals, waterfowl, fish, snakes, reptiles, and carrion.
12. Apart from the meat of their prey, the eagles also eat bones, organs, and fur. They can digest bones and organs, and vomit fur and feathers as a pellet.
13. According to an Aztec legend, Mexico City was established in 1325 when the Aztec people, following the command of their god, found an eagle on cactus eating a snake. The Mexican coat of arms is based on this legend.
14. Eagles have one of the most powerful grip strengths among birds. The grip strength of various eagle species is several times stronger than a human’s grip.  
15. Humans can rotate their heads 70-90 degrees in each direction due to their seven cervical vertebrae. Comparatively, eagles have 14 cervical vertebrae, which allow them to turn their heads up to 180 degrees on each side.
16. The golden eagle is the most widely distributed and common eagle. It is present in most parts of the northern hemisphere.

    

    Golden eagles are the fastest and the most common eagles on earth

    
    
17. Golden eagles are the fastest eagles on earth and one of the fastest birds for diving speed. They can achieve a speed of 150 mph while diving toward their prey.
18. Adult eagles sleep in the nest or on a branch of a tree. They can lock their foot while sleeping to save themselves from falling.
19. Different species of eagles are some of the largest birds of prey. Only condors and vultures are bigger than eagles. (Source)
20. Most of the eagle species are present in Eurasia and Africa. Very few species exist in other parts of the world.
21. More than 70% of eagles die before reaching adulthood. These birds usually live from 20 to 25 years in the wild. The oldest recorded is 29 years. They can live up to 40 years or more in captivity.
22. Eagles can also fly at great heights. Few species can reach more than 10,000 feet in the air. They can fly at high speed and for longer duration even at this altitude. 
23. Eagles are monogamous and mate for life. They build nests in inaccessible locations like high cliffs and the top of the tallest tree in an area.  
24. Golden eagles establish nesting territories that they maintain for a century or more. These birds build primary and alternative nests in this territory. The primary nest is for egg laying, while alternative nests are for future use or to store spare prey. (Source)