Sunday 24 April 2016

Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

OTHER NAMES: Adalbert's Eagle, Spanish Eagle
Latin Etymology: Aquila ("eagle") adalberti (named for Prince Heinrich Wilhelm Adalbert of Prussia)
Adult Spanish Imperial Eagle at Oropesa, Spain - April 2016 

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2.5-3.5kg  /  Length: 78-82cm  /  Wingspan: 180-210cm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Vulnerable 

A large and powerful Eagle species that breeds exclusively in the Iberian peninsula, almost purely in Spain, the Spanish Imperial Eagle is thus one of the most threatened raptor species in Europe.  Until comparatively recently, it was considered to be the same species as the (now renamed Eastern) Imperial Eagle found from Central Europe to Central Asia.  Though you can differentiate the two on location alone, the while marks on the forewing make the Spanish Imperial visually distinctive.  Still at risk from illegal poisoning and collisions with power-lines, the Spanish Imperial Eagle is recovering, and can even be seen comparatively close to some of Spain's biggest cities like Madrid and Seville.

 - Related Species -
ORDER: Accipitriformes  
FAMILY: Accipitridae
GENUS: Aquila
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -
SPAIN - Spanish - Águila Imperial - ("Imperial Eagle")
Scarce and Local Resident
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at Oropesa (1 adult, perched), El Pardo (2 juveniles, flying) and Monfrague (1 adult perched, 1 flying)

Further Notes: ArkiveBirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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