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Trees- ShrubsBonelli’s Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus)
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Hieraaetus fasciatus is closely related to the Booted Eagle (H. pennatus) and the Rufous-bellied Eagle (Hieraaetus kienerii).
The Bonelli’s Eagle is a medium-large bird of prey approximately 60 cm long with a 1.55 m wingspan. It combines beauty and elegance with speed and power. The body of this bird is dark on its back and its under body is streaked white, which flows down to a long, narrow, straight-edged tail. Juvenile birds are pale-orange. At a distance the combination of its whitish body and dark wings and tail is unique (1) (2).
An otherwise silent bird Bonelli’s Eagle will only tend to bark or yelp occasionally around the nest site.
In flight the adult glides majestically with white leading edges on the wings. The style of flight has shallow wing beats, and a high soaring pattern with a stooping motion (1) (3). This eagle patrols mountainous regions, as well as, river deltas, plains, and wetlands in search of prey, often in pairs.
Mountainous regions are the preferred habitat of this bird of, primarily low altitude. They do occur at medium heights but rarely higher than 1,500m (4). Warm, rocky regions are favoured by this species; usually with some scattered shrub (e.g. phrygana).
This eagle will make a nest on steep mountainsides, very rarely in trees. Several nests (one to six) will be established in close proximity to each other and used consecutively. Every year the nests become bigger and bigger. Two eggs are laid, once per year, during the months of February to April.
Bonelli’s Eagles were much more widespread in the past (5) and it can be considered rare today. They are an uncommon and local resident of the Mediterranean (S. Europe and N. Africa). In Greece they have a thin distribution over the Aegean islands. Handrinos and Akriotis (1997) write how there are approximately 50 pairs in Greece, and furthermore Grant et al. (2001) estimate that the world number of breeding pairs is c. 600. The IUCN, reports favourably on the population of Bonelli’s Eagle stating it is somewhere in-between 10,000-100,000 (6). However, this is globally and in Spain its population is considered vulnerable (3). It is also listed in the Greek Red Book (4).
It is a non-migratory, yearly resident. Very occasionally it can be seen at migration watch points (4).
Hieraaetus fasciatus will hunt rabbits, lizards, hares, squirrels, partridges, crows, and pigeons.
IUCN Red List = Least Concern (6)
Description written by Ross James (2009)
(1) Hume. R. (2002) Complete Birds of Britain and Europe, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London
(2) Grant. P. J., Mullarney. K., Svensson. L., and Zetterström. D. (2001) Bird Guide, Harper Collins, London
(3) BTO Web (2009) Bonelli’s Eagle Aquilla fasciatus [Vieillot, 1822] [online] Available:
http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob2990.htm [date accessed: 17/04/2009]
(4) Bourdakis. S. (2000) Endangered species: Bonelli’s Eagle [online] Available: http://www.ornithologiki.gr/en/oiwnos/i3/enspizae.htm [date accessed 19/04/2009]
(5) Handrinos. G., and Akriotis. T. (1997) The Birds of Greece, A & C Black, London
(6) IUCN (2008) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Hieraaetus fasciatus [online] Available:
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/144503 [date accessed: 09/04/2009]
