Eagle

For other meanings, see Eagle (disambiguation).

Eagle
Closeup view of an Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle showing the hooked beak
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes* Family: Accipitridae Genus>Genera: Aquila, Haliaeetus, Pithecophaga, Circaetus (*) Scientists argue whether Accipitriformes are a separate order, or belong to the Falconiformes.

Eagles are large birds of prey, which are found mainly in the Old World, with only two species (Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle) in North America and a few in South America. They are members of the bird order Falconiformes, family Accipitridae and belong to several different genera.

The eagle has been used by many nations as a national symbol, depicting both power and beauty. The Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt used it as their seal, while the Romans used it on the standards of their armies. The United States adopted the North American Bald Eagle as its national emblem.

Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs and powerful talons. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable them to spot potential prey from a distance.

Species

• ORDER FALCONIFORMES
• Family Accipitridae
  • Subfamily Elaninae
  • Subfamily Milvinae
  • Subfamily Accipitrinae
  • Subfamily Buteoninae
    • (buzzards)
    • Crowned Eagle, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus
    • Solitary Eagle, Harpyhaliaetus solitarius
    • Crested Eagle, Morphnus guianensis
    • Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja
    • Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi
    • New Guinea Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae
    • Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Oroaetus isidori
    • Black-and-white Hawk-eagle, Spizastur melanoleucus
    • Cassin's Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus africanus
    • Changeable Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus cirrhatus
    • Mountain Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus nipalensis
    • Blyth's Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus alboniger
    • Javan Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus bartelsi
    • Sulawesi Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus lanceolatus
    • Philippine Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus philippensis
    • Wallace's Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus nanus
    • Black Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus tyrannus
    • Ornate Hawk-eagle, Spizaetus ornatus
    • Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
    • Crowned Hawk-eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus
    • Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
    • Bonelli's Eagle, Hieraaetus fasciatus
    • Booted Eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
    • African Hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus spilogaster
    • Little Eagle, Hieraaetus morphnoides
    • Ayres' Hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii
    • Rufous-bellied Hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus kienerii
    • Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
    • Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca
    • Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis
    • Tawny Eagle, Aquila rapax
    • Greater Spotted Eagle, Aquila clanga
    • Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina
    • Verreaux's Eagle, Aquila verreauxii
    • Imperial Eagle or Adalbert's Eagle, Aquila (heliaca) adalberti
    • Gurney's Eagle, Aquila gurneyi
    • Wahlberg's Eagle, Aquila wahlbergi
    • Wedge-tailed Eagle, Aquila audax
    • Black Eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis
    • White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
    • Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
    • Steller's Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus
    • African Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer
    • White-bellied Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
    • Sanford's Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus sanfordi
    • Madagascar Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vociferoides
    • Pallas' Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus
    • Lesser Fish Eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis
    • Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
  • '''Subfamily Aegypiinae: Old World vultures
  • '''Subfamily Circinae: harriers
  • '''Subfamily Circaetinae: snake-eagles
    • Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
    • Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus
    • Black-chested Snake-eagle, Circaetus pectoralis
    • Brown Snake-eagle, Circaetus cinereus
    • Fasciated Snake-eagle, Circaetus fasciolatus
    • Banded Snake-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
    • Crested Serpent-eagle, Spilornis cheela
    • Nicobar Serpent-eagle, Spilornis minimus
    • Mountain Serpent-eagle,Spilornis kinabaluensis
    • Sulawesi Serpent-eagle, Spilornis rufipectus
    • Philippine Serpent-eagle, Spilornis holospilus
    • Andaman Serpent-eagle, Spilornis elgini