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Samson is our Male Parent
Reared Display Steppe Eagle.
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The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) is a bird of prey. It
is about 62–81 cm (24–32 in) in length and has a wingspan of
165–200 cm (65–79 in). Females, weighing 2.3–4.9 kg
(5–10.8 lbs), are slightly larger than males, at 2–3.5 kg
(4.4–7.7 lbs). Like all eagles, it belongs to the family
Accipitridae. It was once considered to be closely related
to the non-migratory Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) and the two
forms have previously been treated as conspecific. They were
split based on pronounced differences in morphology and
anatomy (Clark, 1992; Olson, 1994; Sangsteret al., 2002);
two molecular studies, each based on a very small number of
genes, indicate that the species are distinct but disagree
over how closely related they are.
The Steppe Eagle breeds from Romania east through the south
Russian and Central Asian steppes to Mongolia. The European
and Central Asian birds winter in Africa, and the eastern
birds in India. It lays 1–3 eggs in a stick nest in a tree.
Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as
desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah.
This is a large eagle with brown upperparts and blackish
flight feathers and tail. This species is larger and darker
than the Tawny Eagle, and it has a pale throat which is
lacking in that species.
Immature birds are less contrasted than adults, but both
show a range of variation in plumage colour. The eastern
race A. n. nipalensis is larger and darker than the European
and Central Asian A. n. orientalis.
Large numbers are seen at certain places such as Khare in
Nepal during migration. As many as 15.3 birds per hour
during October and November have been noted.[2]
The Steppe Eagle's diet is largely fresh carrion of all
kinds, but it will kill rodents and other small mammals up
to the size of a hare, and birds up to the size of
partridges. It will also steal food from other raptors. Like
other species the Steppe Eagle has a crop in its throat
allowing it to store food for several hours before being
moved to the stomach.
The call of the Steppe Eagle sounds like a crow barking, but
it is rather a silent bird. The Steppe Eagle is the national
animal of Egypt.
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Hatch Date |
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t.b.c. |
01-06-2011 |
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