Greater spotted eagle

species of bird

The greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga), occasionally just called the spotted eagle, is a large bird of prey. Like all typical eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. In summer it lives in eastern Eurasia, and winters further south.

Greater spotted eagle
Adult wintering at the Tal Chapar Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan, India)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Clanga
Species:
C. clanga
Binomial name
Clanga clanga
(Pallas, 1811)
Breeding (light green) and wintering (blue) ranges
Synonyms

Aquila clanga

Clanga clanga eggs

Description

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A medium-sized eagle, the greater spotted eagle only has white spots as a juvenile, when they extend in bands across the upperwing. By adulthood, the spots have faded leaving dark brown feathers across the head, body and wings, with slightly paler flight feathers on the upper side. In gliding flight, the greater spotted eagle holds the feathers at the tips of the wings downward.

References

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  1. BirdLife International (2021). "Clanga clanga". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22696027A203868747. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696027A203868747.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.