Aquila clanga
greater spotted eagle

Greater spotted eagles can be found in Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and Southeast Asia. Breeding pairs have been found in Finland, mainland China and Mongolia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. The entire range is estimated at 8,961,000 km2. ("BirdLife International", 2006; "UNEP-WCMC Species Database", 2006)

Greater spotted eagles mainly occur in forested areas and wetlands, including temperate and boreal forests, temperate shrublands, and subtropical and tropical mangrove forests. They occur near bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, peat lands, and permanent fresh water lakes. This species is typically found at low altitudes. Greater spotted eagles winter in southern Europe, southern Asia, the Middle East and Africa as far south as Uganda and Kenya. There is little published about their migration. ("BirdLife International", 2006; "Nature and Biodiversity", 2006; Meyburg et al., 2005)

Greater spotted eagles range from 62 to 74 cm in length. Adults are dark brown with slightly paler flight feathers. Underwing coverts are generally darker than flight feathers. There are bands of white spots across the upperwings of juveniles. ("BirdLife International", 2006; Kazama, 1984; Robinson, 2006)

There is no information on lifespan in these eagles.

Little is known about the migratory behavior of greater spotted eagles. After a recent study experts discovered that greater spotted eagle families break up when they migrate. Multiple individuals departed Eyrie, Poland in two different directions: adult females left first, young of the year left several days later. Adult males left last. Adult birds headed southweast towards Bosphorus and young of the year headed southwest towards Albania. Little is known about other aspects of behavior as well. They are active during the day and migratory. Like most raptors they are likely to be solitary outside of the breeding season. ("BirdLife International", 2006; Meyburg et al., 2005)

Home Range

Home range in greater spotted eagles is not known. ("BirdLife International", 2006)

Greater spotted eagles have keen senses of vision and hearing. Like most birds, they do not rely extensively on chemical cues. No information on communication among individuals was found.

Greater spotted eagles are carnivorous, eating mainly small mammals, water birds, frogs, and snakes. Mammals (especially Microtus arvalis) comprise 53% of the diet in Russia and 58% in the Oka Reserve. ("BirdLife International", 2006; "Nature and Biodiversity", 2006)

Aquila clanga are hunted and poisoned by humans. Hatchlings and eggs may be preyed on by American mink (Neovison vison) and other nest predators. Fledglings may be targeted by other raptors or owls. Otherwise, greater spotted eagles are top predators and adults are not typically preyed on by other large predators. ("IUCN Red List", 2004)

Greater spotted eagles are top predators in their ecosystem. They help to control populations of small mammals and other small vertebrates. ("BirdLife International", 2006)

There are no known adverse effects of Aquila clanga on humans. ("BirdLife International", 2006; "IUCN Red List", 2004)

Aquila clanga is an important member of healthy ecosystems. ("BirdLife International", 2006; "IUCN Red List", 2004)

Current population estimates for this species is less than 10,000 birds. Russia is thought to be home to up to 3000 pairs, while the rest of Europe may house up to 900 adult pairs. Greater spotted eagles are declining at a rate likely to exceed 10% in three generations. The IUCN Redlist lists greater spotted eagles as vulnerable. Measures have been taken by many eastern European countries, particularly Belarus. Greater spotted eagles are protected by general conservation laws in Belarus and Estonia. Poland has protected land allotted to greater spotted eagles. An international working group for the protection of lesser spotted eagles (Aquila pomarina) and greater spotted eagles has been established. Deforestation and wetland drainage are the biggest threats to these raptors. Additionally, an invasive species, American mink (Neovison vison), that preys on nestlings and eggs have been introduced to areas where greater spotted eagle populations were once stable. ("BirdLife International", 2006; "IUCN Red List", 2004; "Nature and Biodiversity", 2006; "UNEP-WCMC Species Database", 2006)