Eastern Imperial Eagle

Aquila heliaca (Savigny, 1809)

		adult juvenile
2011-05-04 Jodro, Altai Republic. 2015-08-05 Maiorka. Charyshsky raion. Altaysky kray.	© Sergey Pisarevskiy © Irina Popova

Biology

Rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the small forests and groves in steppe zone, in forest-steppe, the riparian forests, and the foothills of mountain ranges. Appears in southern areas in late March. to northern areas arrives in April. Both parents build the nest on trees (pine, larch, poplar, birch), usually on tree tip, at 5-30 m above the ground. Usually the nest tree is situated in the forest margin (often on the slope of mountain) or stays single. Nest is built for 10 days from the dry twigs and is lined with the old grass, rags, hair, horse droppings and green twigs often. Nests are used for some years, birds repair them every year. Laying of 1-3 (usually 2) eggs is in early April – end of May. Both parents incubate for about 43 days. Nestlings hatch in mid-May – June; male brings the prey but female feeds nestlings, which fledge at the age 65-77 days, in late July – August. Autumn migration begins in early September and goes to middle or late October.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.