This large bird hovering freely and easilyheaven, is admired for its inaccessibility, majesty and incredible power. No wonder in many folk tales it takes the majestic place of the king of all birds.
This article will present the largest eagles in the world and Russia, or rather, some of them. These are delightful and graceful giants with an unimaginably huge span of powerful and strong wings.
About eagles
In nature, there is a huge family of eagles,which includes many species of eagle. However, in Russia there are not so many of them: the golden eagle-monarch, gravedigger, dwarf, hawk, steppe, large and small spotted eagles.
Each of these species is unique, hascertain features in structure, size, habitat and habits. All of this and what the biggest eagles exist on earth will be covered in this article.
Golden eagle
Of all known species of eagles, the golden eagle is one ofthe most powerful and beautiful. The span of its powerful wings reaches 2 meters. And its tail, which plays the role of a rudder and gives maneuverability and speed, is also rather big. In this connection, there is practically no chance of salvation in the prey noted by the golden eagle.
Клюв беркута представляет мощнейшее оружие.In its shape, it is large and curved. With its cutting edges, the eagle is able to cut the victim's skin into pieces. And this is not the most important weapon. He also has strong powerful claws, with the help of which he grabs and kills the animal caught by him.
Eagle eagle hunts on a variety of animals:rodents (marmots, gophers and hares), birds (black grouses and grouses), medium-sized hoofed animals. Even turtles sometimes become his victim, even though they have a seemingly reliable shell. In the latter case, the cunning of this wise bird plays a big role. She throws a caught turtle from a height, so that the shell is broken against the stones, and the delicious tender meat becomes the food of the golden eagle.
The nest of this bird is huge, with a diameter of up to 2meters, and up to one. The eagle eagle spreads the inner part of its dwelling with wool, scraps of hides, tree branches with leaves, and fresh coniferous branches. In nature, one can find nests built by him even at an altitude of about 3000 meters.
Andean Condor
This is a larger bird that lives inThe Andes and the Pacific coast. Three meters is the wingspan of a condor. This giant is known for its white feathers collar on the neck against the background of beautiful shiny black plumage, as well as a crest on the head.
It feeds mainly on carrion, but it can also hunt medium-sized birds, and also likes to feed on eggs. A total of condor can eat in one sitting about 6 kilograms of meat.
These giants live quite high in the mountains, and they arrange their nests at almost 5-meter height.
Sapsan
The bird has a name that is translated fromLatin means “traveling,” and this is deserved. She travels almost everywhere, visiting during the flights of northern European countries, Asia, America, and reaches Central Africa.
The dark gray color of the upper body of the bird has triangular spots, and the lower, yellowish tone - dark stripes. Spotted flight feathers have a bluish-black color.
The nesting place of this giant bird islarge forests interspersed with rocks. Sapsan is a bird nesting in the cracks of steep cliffs, but more often preferring abandoned housing of kites and eagles. Approximately 50 years ago, it was seen even on the high-rise buildings of European cities.
Основная пища сапсанов – птицы (от жаворонков до geese). No wonder they are also called pigeon houses. During the hunt for prey, the birds develop tremendous speed, and therefore it often happens that the victim, having dodged, is saved, and the predator itself breaks about the obstacle.
Gorgeous hunter Peregrine Falcon.However, like other falcons, when pursued by other predators, it abandons its captured prey. What other cunning birds of prey use. They often lie in wait for a peregrine falcon to get easy prey.
Peregrine falcons, like many of the biggest eagles, with longtimes used by people as a hunting bird. It differs from other trapping eagles by a slightly smaller size, short tail and strongly bent beak.
Philippine harpy
This powerful bird of prey is a family of hawks.differently called monkey eating. The Philippine harpy is one of the rarest large birds in the world. She lives only in the Philippines, in tropical forests. This bird is one of the main national symbols of the country, and it is under state protection. Her murder is punishable by Filipino law by twelve years in prison and a large fine.
The size of the Philippine harpy is impressive:length from 80 to 100 cm, width of the wingspan - about 220 cm. The long tail and relatively short wings allow this bird to maneuver quite easily in flight in dense forests.
The head of the bird is whitish-ocher with a tuft ofnarrow and long feathers with brown coloring on the back and on the wings, and on the tail - with darker transverse stripes. The belly is painted in ocher-whitish color.
The bird has a tall and very large beak.
In conclusion about some curious facts.
The biggest eagles that exist today onthe earth turns out to be not so gigantic. In 2000, The Times magazine published a sensational report that archaeologists from New Zealand found the skeletons of giant eagles. Scientists with the help of various studies have established that the weight of the birds found could reach 20 kg, which, most likely, did not allow them to rise to great heights. Another curious fact was that ancient tools made from the bones of large birds were discovered.
Sensational results were obtained when comparing DNA. It turned out that the remains belong to the huge eagles that once inhabited New Zealand.
Moreover, the DNA of this ancient species did not coincide withone of the modern species. Only a miniature eagle on DNA resembles these birds. Giant eagles fed on smaller birds (similar to geese) that were accessible to humans. In this regard, their population has rapidly declined, and over time they are completely extinct. And after them the giant eagles were also doomed, having lost their main source of food.
