Eagle
| Eagle | ||||||||||||
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Closeup view of an Australian Wedge-tailed Eagle showing the hooked beak. | ||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
(*) Scientists argue whether Accipitriformes are a separate order, or belong to the Falconiformes. |
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
Genus Aquila. Typical eagles.
- Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
- Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
- Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
- Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
- Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax
- Lesser-spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
- Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
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Genus Haliaeetus, Sea eagles:
- Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
- White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
- Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus
- African Fish-eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
- Pallas' Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus
- Sanford' Sea Eagle Haliaeetus sanfordi
- Madacascar Sea Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides
- Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi
- Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
- (South American) Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja
- New Guinean Harpy Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae
- Haast's Eagle, Harpagornis moorei (extinct)
- Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Geranoaetus melanoleucus