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TAXONOMY - Coggle Diagram
TAXONOMY
Eagle taxonomy
Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. True eagles comprise the genus Aquila. Most of the 68 species of eagles are from Eurasia and Africa Outside this area, just 14 species can be found—2 in North America, 9 in Central and South America, and 3 in Australia.
Eagles are not a natural group but denote essentially any kind of bird of prey large enough to hunt sizeable (about 50 cm long or more overall) vertebrates.
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HABITAT AND LOCATION
What kind of Habitats are they found in. Most eagle species prefer building their nests on high cliffs and in tall trees near water bodies like streams, lakes, and rivers. Since eagles are sensitive to disturbances caused by human activity, they require extensive, undisturbed forested lands for nesting.
The eagles are generally distributed in all types of habitats and nearly all parts of the world. The birds can be found in northern tundra to tropical rainforests and deserts. In North America, bald eagles and golden eagles are very common. The other nine species are endemic to Central and South America.
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BEHAVIOR
They vigorously defend their nesting territory when breeding, yet become gregarious when not breeding. They will sit (perch) for long hours; in winter, for up to 98 percent of the day, conserving energy. They will select winter night roosts that meet very specific criteria (slope, aspect, etc.) They will eat carrion.
Typically, yes, although occasionally an intruding adult (not one of the pair) comes in and battles the resident bird for the territory, sometimes then taking over. If one of the pair dies, the other will find a new mate and usually keep going in the same territory.
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DIET OR NUTRITION
The bird relies on surprise attack – ensuing chases rarely succeed. While pairs may hunt co-operatively, it is rare for numbers of birds to congregate at a food source.
Eagle diet is principally mammals and birds, taken both alive and as carrion. Main live prey consists of medium sized mammals and birds such as rabbits, hares, grouse and ptarmigan. The diet of coastal birds includes gulls and other seabirds. Larger items are taken as carrion.
The maximum weight most golden eagles can lift is 4-5kg, hence tales of very large animals or even children being carried away are to be viewed with scepticism.
In the western Highlands of Scotland where live prey is scarce, the eagles depend largely on carrion, especially during the winter months. The average daily food requirement is 250g. After a large meal, an eagle may not need to eat again for several days.
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