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Line 1: − + + − '''Eagles''' are a number of species of large raptor, generally distinguished by their prominent heads, deep bills, long, broad-ended wings and majestic soaring flight, and especially by legs leathered right down to the feet.+ + + + + + + + − + − Include,+ − + − + − + − + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
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[[Image:Eagle.jpg|right|thumb|Bald Eagle]]
[[Image:Eagle.jpg|right|thumb|Bald Eagle, ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'']]
'''Eagle''' refers to large diurnal birds of prey from the order ''Falconiformes'', family ''Accipitridae'', and characterized by resemblance to vultures when in flight, but bearing fully-feathered heads and powerful talons capable of taking and killing live prey. Because of their strength and majestic appearance, eagles have been prominently displayed as heraldic symbols of war and earthly power.
==Description==
Eagles are found throughout the world, from the cold waters of the Arctic north to the tropical rain forests of Africa, Asia, and South America. They are monogamous, mating for life, and using the same nest every year, which is placed in an inaccessible site (called an eyrie), such as the top of a tree or a cliff face. The clutch of three to four eggs take six to eight weeks to hatch, but when hatched the young mature slowly, putting on their adult plumage in three to four years.
Eagles are typically two to three feet long and have wingspans from six to eight feet. The smallest eagle, Ayres' Hawk-eagle, (''Hieraaetus ayresii''), is only 16 inches long, while the largest eagles, the Harpy (''Harpia harpyja''), Steller's sea-eagle (''Haliaeetus pelagicus''), and the Philippine eagle (''Pithecophaga jefferyi'') each approach 39 inches in length and weigh close to sixteen pounds. All eagles have keen eyesight; experiments conducted on golden eagles (''Aquila chrysaetos'') have determined that they are able to discern, identify, and successfully kill an animal as small as a rabbit from a minimum distance of a quarter-mile away.
==Use as symbols==
[[Image:Mexican arms.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Golden Eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') featured in an Aztec legend, now the current arms of Mexico]]
Eagles have been used as symbolds of government and imperial power since at least the time of the [[Babylon]]ians. In styalized form they have been placed atop the standards of ancient [[Persia]] and Imperial [[Rome]]. A two-headed eagle was used as a coat of arms for the [[Byzantine Empire]], than later as the standard for Czarist Russia and the Hapsburg [[Austrian Empire]]. An [[Azte]]c legend of an eagle clutching a snake while sitting on a cactus led to the founding of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, and later became the coat of arms for [[Mexico]]. The [[United States]] adopted the bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') as its national emblem.
== Species of eagle ==
== Species of eagle ==
'''Family ''Accipitridae'''''
* '''Subfamily ''Buteoninae''''' - true eagles, sea eagles, hawks (buteo, or buzzard hawks)
*The [[golden eagle]] of [[Scotland]] and northern [[Europe]].
**Genus ''Aquila''
*The [[fish eagle]] of [[Africa]].
*** Bonelli's Eagle, ''A. fasciata''
*The [[bald eagle]], the national bird of the [[United States]].
*** Booted Eagle, ''A. pennata'' - formerly ''Hieraaetus pennatus''
*The [[monkey]]-eating eagle of the [[Philippines]].
*** Eastern Imperial Eagle, ''A. heliaca''
*The extinct [[moa]]-eating Giant Eagle ''Harpagornis moorei'' of New Zealand, the largest eagle to have ever existed.
*** Golden Eagle, ''A. chrysaetos''
*** Greater Spotted Eagle, ''A. clanga''
*** Gurney's Eagle, ''A. gurneyi''
*** Indian Spotted Eagle, ''A. hastata''
*** Lesser Spotted Eagle, ''A. pomarina''
*** Little Eagle, ''A. morphnoides''
*** Spanish Imperial Eagle ''A. adalberti''
*** Steppe Eagle, ''A. nipalensis''
*** Tawny Eagle, ''A. rapax''
*** Verreaux's Eagle, ''A. verreauxii''
*** Wahlberg's Eagle, ''A. wahlbergi''
*** Wedge-tailed Eagle, ''A. audax''
**Genus ''Geranoaetus''
*** Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, ''Geranoaetus melanoleucus''
**Genus ''Haliaeetus''
*** African Fish-eagle, ''H. vocifer''
*** Bald Eagle, ''H. leucocephalus''
*** Madagascar Fish-eagle, ''H. vociferoides''
*** Pallas' Sea-eagle, ''H. leucoryphus''
*** Sanford's Fish-eagle, ''H. sanfordi''
*** Steller's Sea-eagle, ''H. pelagicus''
*** White-bellied Sea-eagle, ''H. leucogaster''
*** White-tailed Eagle, ''Haliaeetus albicilla''
**Genus ''Harpagornis'' (extinct)
*** Haast's Eagle, ''Harpagornis moorei''
**Genus ''Harpia''
*** Harpy Eagle, ''Harpia harpyja''
**Genus ''Harpyhaliaetus''
*** Crowned Solitary Eagle, ''Harpyhaliaetus coronatus''
*** Solitary Eagle, ''H. solitarius''
**Genus ''Harpyopsis''
*** New Guinea Eagle, ''Harpyopsis novaeguineae''
**Genus ''Hieraaetus''
*** African Hawk Eagle, ''H. spilogaster''
*** Ayres' Hawk-eagle, ''Hieraaetus ayresii''
*** Rufous-bellied Eagle, ''H. kienerii''
**Genus ''Ichthyophaga''
*** Grey-headed Fish-eagle, ''I. ichthyaetus''
*** Lesser Fish-eagle, ''Ichthyophaga humilis''
**Genus ''Ictinaetus''
*** Black Eagle, ''Ictinaetus malayensis''
**Genus ''Lophaetus''
*** Long-crested Eagle, ''Lophaetus occipitalis''
**Genus ''Morphnus''
*** Crested Eagle, ''Morphnus guianensis''
**Genus ''Oroaetus''
*** Black-and-chestnut Eagle, ''Oroaetus isidori''
**Genus ''Pithecophaga''
*** Philippine Eagle, ''Pithecophaga jefferyi''
**Genus ''Polemaetus''
*** Martial Eagle, ''Polemaetus bellicosus''
**Genus ''Spizaetus''
*** Black Hawk-eagle, ''S. tyrannus''
*** Black-and-white Hawk-eagle, ''S. melanoleucus''
*** Blyth's Hawk-eagle, ''S. alboniger''
*** Cassin's Hawk-eagle, ''Spizaetus africanus''
*** Changeable Hawk-eagle, ''S. cirrhatus''
*** Javan Hawk-eagle, ''S. bartelsi''
*** Mountain Hawk-eagle, ''S. nipalensis''
*** Ornate Hawk-eagle, ''S. ornatus''
*** Philippine Hawk-eagle, ''S. philippensis''
*** Sulawesi Hawk-eagle, ''S. lanceolatus''
*** Wallace's Hawk-eagle, ''S. nanus''
**Genus ''Stephanoaetus''
*** Crowned Hawk-eagle, ''Stephanoaetus coronatus''
* '''Subfamily ''Circaetinae''''': snake-eagles
**Genus ''Circaetus''
*** Banded Snake-eagle, ''C. cinerascens''
**Genus ''Eutriorchis''
*** Madagascar Serpent-eagle, ''Eutriorchis astur''
*** Black-chested Snake-eagle, ''C. pectoralis''
*** Brown Snake-eagle, ''C. cinereus''
*** Fasciated Snake-eagle, ''C. fasciolatus''
*** Short-toed Eagle, ''Circaetus gallicus''
**Genus ''Spilornis''
*** Andaman Serpent-eagle, ''S. elgini''
*** Crested Serpent-eagle, ''Spilornis cheela''
*** Mountain Serpent-eagle,''S. kinabaluensis''
*** Nicobar Serpent-eagle, ''S. minimus''
*** Philippine Serpent-eagle, ''S. holospilus''
*** Sulawesi Serpent-eagle, ''S. rufipectus''
**Genus ''Terathopius''
*** Bateleur, ''Terathopius ecaudatus''
[[category:Birds]]
[[category:Birds]]