Hands Down Animals · Printable fact sheet
Eagle
Accipitridae (multiple genera, esp. Aquila, Haliaeetus, etc.)
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Accipitridae (multiple genera, esp. Aquila, Haliaeetus, etc.) |
|---|---|
| Size | 0.5 to 1.1 m body length; wingspans from 1.6 to 2.5 m |
| Weight | 2 to 7 kg (range across species) |
| Lifespan | Typically 15-25 years, up to 40 in wild or captivity |
| Diet | Varies by species; includes fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, and carrion. Sea eagles specialize in fish… |
| Habitat | Forest and woodland, Mountains and cliffs, Large lakes and rivers |
| Where it lives | North America, South America, Europe, Asia |
| IUCN status | Varies by species; most are Least Concern, but several are Endangered or Critically Endangered |
| Population | Unknown (varies widely by species) |
| Top speed | 160 km/h |
| Family | Accipitridae |
About the eagle
Eagles are large birds of prey found on every continent except Antarctica, from the golden eagle of open mountain country to the harpy eagle of South American rainforest canopies. Their eyesight resolves detail several times finer than a human's, letting a soaring bird pick out a rabbit from more than a kilometre away. Some species are in serious trouble: the Philippine eagle is Critically Endangered with only a few hundred pairs left.
Five things to know
- Eagles possess the largest nests of any bird, some exceeding 2 meters in diameter.
- The Harpy Eagle is one of the world’s most powerful birds of prey, able to hunt monkeys and sloths.
- Some eagles can spot prey from more than 3 kilometers (2 miles) away thanks to their incredible eyesight.
- Female eagles are typically larger than males, a trait known as sexual dimorphism.
- The fastest dives of eagles can reach up to 160 km/h (100 mph).
Homeschool unit: Birds homeschool guide — Flight, feathers and migration: a bird unit that uses raptors like the eagle as its worked examples.