Eagle 37602 226181605 2008-07-17T05:23:38Z BD2412 196446 /* External links */ {{wikiquote}} {{Taxobox | name = Eagle | image = Kaiseradler Aquila heliaca 2 amk.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = [[Eastern Imperial Eagle]] | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[bird|Aves]] | ordo = [[Falconiformes]] | familia = [[Accipitridae]] | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = Several, [[Eagle#Taxonomy|see text]]. }} {{about | the bird}} '''Eagles''' are large [[bird of prey|birds of prey]] which mainly inhabit [[Eurasia]] and [[Africa]].<ref>'''del Hoyo''', J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1994). '''[[Handbook of the Birds of the World]] Volume 2''': New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334156</ref> Outside these two areas, just two species (the [[Bald Eagle|Bald]] and [[Golden Eagle]]s) can be found in [[North America]] - (north of [[Mexico]]), a few species in [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]], and three others in [[Australia]]. They are members of the [[bird]] order [[Falconiformes]] (or [[Accipitriformes]], according to alternative classification schemes), family [[Accipitridae]], and belong to several [[Genus|genera]] which are not necessarily closely related to each other genetically. Eagles are differentiated from other birds of prey mainly by their larger size, more powerful build, and heavier head and bill. Even the smallest eagles, like the [[Booted Eagle]] (which is comparable in size to a [[Common Buzzard]] or [[Red-tailed Hawk]]), have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from the [[vulture]]s. Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large powerful hooked [[beak]]s for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, and powerful [[talon]]s. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable them to spot potential [[prey]] from a very long distance.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Shlaer | first = Robert | date = 1972-05-26 | title = An Eagle's Eye: Quality of the Retinal Image | journal = Science | volume = 176 | issue = 4037 | pages = 920–922 | publisher = | doi = 10.1126/science.176.4037.920 | url = http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/176/4037/920?ck=nck | accessdate = 2007-11-20 | pmid = 5033635 }}</ref> This keen eyesight is primarily contributed by their extremely large pupils which cause minimal [[diffraction]] (scattering) of the incoming light. In [[Great Britain|Britain]] before 1678, ''Eagle'' referred specifically to the [[Golden Eagle]], the other native species, the [[White-tailed Eagle]], being known as the Erne. The modern name "Golden Eagle" for ''Aquila chrysaetos'' was introduced by the naturalist [[John Ray]]. Eagles build their nests, called ''eyries'', in tall trees or on high [[cliff]]s. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. Eagles are sometimes used in [[falconry]]. They appear prominently in myth and literature. In the Old World, such references are commonly to the Golden Eagle (or possibly closely related species found in warmer climates). ==Taxonomy== [[Image:wiki eagle.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Thermographic image of an eagle, thermoregulating using its wings]] Major new research into eagle [[taxonomy]] suggests that the important genera ''Aquila'' and ''Hieraaetus'' are not composed of nearest relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these genera will soon take place, with some species being moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus''.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lerner |first=H. R. L. |coauthors=D. P. Mindell |year=2005 |title=Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |issue=37 |pages=327–346 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010 |volume=37 }}</ref> *[[Bonelli's Eagle]], the [[Booted Eagle]] and the [[Little Eagle]] have been moved from ''Hieraaetus'' to ''Aquila''. *Either the [[Greater Spotted Eagle]] and [[Lesser Spotted Eagle]] should move from ''Aquila'' to join the [[Long-crested Eagle]] in ''Lophaetus'', or, perhaps better, all three of these species should move to ''Ictinaetus'' with the [[Black Eagle]]. *The [[Steppe Eagle]] and [[Tawny Eagle]], once thought to be conspecific, are not even each other's nearest relatives. ===Species=== '''FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE''' * '''Subfamily [[Buteoninae]]''' - hawks (buzzards), true eagles and sea-eagles **Genus ''Geranoaetus'' *** [[Black-chested Buzzard-eagle]], ''Geranoaetus melanoleucus'' **Genus ''[[Harpyhaliaetus]]'' *** [[Crowned Solitary Eagle]], ''Harpyhaliaetus coronatus'' *** [[Solitary Eagle]], ''H. solitarius'' **Genus ''Morphnus'' *** [[Crested Eagle]], ''Morphnus guianensis'' [[Image:Harpy Eagle2.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The powerful [[Harpy Eagle]] can easily grab a monkey weighing 5 kg and fly away with it.]] **Genus ''Harpia'' *** [[Harpy Eagle]], ''Harpia harpyja'' **Genus ''Pithecophaga'' *** [[Philippine Eagle]], ''Pithecophaga jefferyi'' **Genus ''Harpyopsis'' *** [[New Guinea Eagle]], ''Harpyopsis novaeguineae'' **Genus ''Oroaetus'' *** [[Black-and-chestnut Eagle]], ''Oroaetus isidori'' **Genus ''[[Spizaetus]]'' *** [[Cassin's Hawk-eagle]], ''Spizaetus africanus'' *** [[Changeable Hawk-eagle]], ''S. cirrhatus'' *** [[Mountain Hawk-eagle]], ''S. nipalensis'' *** [[Blyth's Hawk-eagle]], ''S. alboniger'' *** [[Javan Hawk-eagle]], ''S. bartelsi'' *** [[Sulawesi Hawk-eagle]], ''S. lanceolatus'' *** [[Philippine Hawk-eagle]], ''S. philippensis'' *** [[Wallace's Hawk-eagle]], ''S. nanus'' *** [[Black Hawk-eagle]], ''S. tyrannus'' *** [[Ornate Hawk-eagle]], ''S. ornatus'' *** [[Black-and-white Hawk-eagle]], ''S. melanoleucus'' **Genus ''Lophaetus'' *** [[Long-crested Eagle]], ''Lophaetus occipitalis'' - possibly belongs in ''Ictinaetus'' **Genus ''Stephanoaetus'' *** [[Crowned Hawk-eagle]], ''Stephanoaetus coronatus'' **Genus ''Polemaetus'' *** [[Martial Eagle]], ''Polemaetus bellicosus'' **Genus ''[[Hieraaetus]]'' *** [[Ayres' Hawk-eagle]], ''Hieraaetus ayresii'' *** [[African Hawk Eagle]], ''H. spilogaster'' *** [[New Guinea Hawk-eagle]], ''H. weiskei'' [[Image:Eagle Lahore Zoo June302005.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A [[Steppe Eagle]] in [[Lahore Zoo]] Pakistan .]] **Genus ''Harpagornis'' ([[Extinction|extinct]]) *** [[Haast's Eagle]], ''Harpagornis moorei'' - possibly belongs in either ''Hieraaetus'' or ''Aquila''<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bunce |first=M. |coauthors=et al |year=2005 |title=Ancient DNA Provides New Insights into the Evolutionary History of New Zealand's Extinct Giant Eagle |journal=PLoS Biol |volume=3 |issue=1 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0030009 |url=http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.0030009 |accessdate=2006-12-27 | pages = e9}}</ref> **Genus ''[[Aquila (genus)|Aquila]]'' *** [[Bonelli's Eagle]], ''Aquila fasciata'' - formerly ''Hieraaetus fasciatus'' *** [[Booted Eagle]], ''A. pennata'' - formerly ''Hieraaetus pennatus'' *** [[Little Eagle]], ''A. morphnoides'' *** [[Golden Eagle]], ''A. chrysaetos'' *** [[Eastern Imperial Eagle]], ''A. heliaca'' *** [[Rufous-bellied Eagle]], ''A. kienerii'' *** [[Spanish Imperial Eagle]] ''A. adalberti'' *** [[Steppe Eagle]], ''A. nipalensis'' *** [[Tawny Eagle]], ''A. rapax'' *** [[Greater Spotted Eagle]], ''A. clanga'' - to be moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus'' *** [[Lesser Spotted Eagle]], ''A. pomarina'' - to be moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus'' *** [[Indian Spotted Eagle]], ''A. hastata'' - to be moved to ''Lophaetus'' or ''Ictinaetus'' *** [[Verreaux's Eagle]], ''A. verreauxii'' *** [[Gurney's Eagle]], ''A. gurneyi'' *** [[Wahlberg's Eagle]], ''A. wahlbergi'' *** [[Wedge-tailed Eagle]], ''A. audax'' **Genus ''Ictinaetus'' *** [[Black Eagle]], ''Ictinaetus malayensis'' **Genus ''[[Haliaeetus]]'' *** [[White-tailed Eagle]], ''Haliaeetus albicilla'' *** [[Bald Eagle]], ''H. leucocephalus'' *** [[Steller's Sea-eagle]], ''H. pelagicus'' *** [[African Fish-eagle]], ''H. vocifer'' *** [[White-bellied Sea-eagle]], ''H. leucogaster'' *** [[Sanford's Fish-eagle]], ''H. sanfordi'' *** [[Madagascar Fish-eagle]], ''H. vociferoides'' *** [[Pallas' Sea-eagle]], ''H. leucoryphus'' **Genus ''[[Ichthyophaga]]'' *** [[Lesser Fish-eagle]], ''Ichthyophaga humilis'' *** [[Grey-headed Fish-eagle]], ''I. ichthyaetus'' [[Image:Circaetus gallicus 01.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A dark individual of the [[Short-toed Eagle]].]] * '''Subfamily [[Circaetinae]]: snake-eagles''' **Genus ''Terathopius'' *** [[Bateleur]], ''Terathopius ecaudatus'' **Genus ''[[Circaetus]]'' *** [[Short-toed Eagle]], ''Circaetus gallicus'' *** [[Black-chested Snake-eagle]], ''C. pectoralis'' *** [[Brown Snake-eagle]], ''C. cinereus'' *** [[Fasciated Snake-eagle]], ''C. fasciolatus'' *** [[Banded Snake-eagle]], ''C. cinerascens'' **Genus ''[[Spilornis]]'' *** [[Crested Serpent-eagle]], ''Spilornis cheela'' *** [[Nicobar Serpent-eagle]], ''S. minimus'' *** [[Mountain Serpent-eagle]],''S. kinabaluensis'' *** [[Sulawesi Serpent-eagle]], ''S. rufipectus'' *** [[Spilornis holospilus|Philippine Serpent-eagle]], ''S. holospilus'' *** [[Andaman Serpent-eagle]], ''S. elgini'' **Genus ''Eutriorchis'' *** [[Madagascar Serpent-eagle]], ''Eutriorchis astur'' ==Eagles in culture== ===The word=== The modern [[English language|English]] name of the bird is derived from the [[Latin]] term ''aquila'' by way of the [[French language|French]] ''Aigle''. The Latin ''aquila'' may derive from the word ''aquilus'', meaning dark-colored, swarthy, or blackish, as a description of the eagle's plumage; or from ''Aquilo'', the Latin version of Greek ''Boreas'', or north wind. [[Old English]] used the term ''Earn'', related to [[Scandinavia]]'s ''Ørn / Örn''. The [[etymology]] of this word is related to [[Modern Greek|Greek]] ''ornis'', literally meaning "bird". In this sense, the Eagle is ''the Bird'' with a capital B. ===Eagles as national symbols=== [[Image:Byzantine eagle.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Double-headed eagle emblem of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Relief from the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] ([[Istanbul]])]] [[Image:Berg en Terblijt (Weapon).png|thumb|right|250px|Coat of arms of the town of [[Berg en Terblijt]] in the Netherlands, an example of the prolific use of the eagle in European [[heraldry]].]] [[Image:Aigle-napoleonienne-p1030180.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Napoleonic eagle]] Eagles have been used by many nations as a national symbol. *The '''[[coat of arms of Albania]]''' has a black [[double-headed eagle]]. *The '''[[coat of arms of Armenia]]''' has a gold eagle and lion. *The '''[[coat of arms of Austria]]''' has a black eagle. *The '''[[coat of arms of the Czech Republic]]''' integrates the symbols of [[Moravia]] and [[Silesia]] (both with female eagles in their emblems - red-and-white [[chequered]] and black respectively) on the [[coat of arms of the Czech Republic]] with [[Bohemia]]'s lion. *The '''[[coat of arms of Egypt]]''' is a golden eagle looking towards the viewer's left. *The '''[[coat of arms of Germany]]''' has a black eagle. *The '''[[coat of arms of Ghana]]''' has two golden eagles holding it. *The '''[[coat of arms of Indonesia]]''' has an eagle-like [[garuda]] carrying a shield on its neck and a banner on its feet. *The '''[[coat of arms of Iraq]]''' has the golden Eagle of [[Saladin]] *The '''[[coat of arms of Jordan]]''' has a black eagle. *The '''[[coat of arms of Mexico]]''' golden eagle perched upon a cactus devouring a snake. *The '''[[coat of arms of Moldova]]''' consists of a stylized eagle holding a cross in its beak and a sceptre and a branch in its claws. *The '''[[coat of arms of Montenegro]]''' represents the two-headed eagle in flight. *The '''[[coat of arms of Nigeria]]''' has a red eagle on top. *The Insignia of the '''[[Pakistan Air Force]]''' includes the [[Peregrine Falcon]] State Military national bird. *The '''[[coat of arms of Panama]]''' has a harpy eagle *The '''[[coat of arms of the Philippines]]''' has the bald eagle of the United States. *The '''[[coat of arms of Poland]]''' has a white eagle with a golden beak and talons wearing a golden crown. *The '''[[coat of arms of Romania]]''' has a golden [[aquila]] holding a cross in its beak and a mace and a sword in its claws. *The '''[[coat of arms of Russia]]''' has a double-headed eagle. *The '''[[coat of arms of Serbia]]''' has a white bicephalic eagle of the [[House of Nemanjić]]. *The '''[[coat of arms of Syria]]''' formerly had the eagle of Saladin. *The '''[[Great Seal of the United States]]''' has a bald eagle. *The '''[[coat of arms of Yemen]]''' depicts a golden eagle with a scroll between its claws. *The '''[[coat of arms of Nigeria]]''' has a red eagle on top. * '''Hellenistic Egypt'''. The [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic]] rulers of [[Egypt]] used it as their seal. * '''First French Empire'''. [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] used the Roman Golden Eagle as the symbol of his new French empire. * '''[[Persian Empire]]'''. The symbol of Persian Army was an Eagle * '''Rome'''. The [[ancient Rome|Romans]] used it on the [[Aquila (Roman)|standards of their armies]]. From this derives: ** '''The late [[Byzantine Empire]]''' chose a two-headed golden eagle as its symbol. It is popularly that one head symbolised ancient Rome, and the other head symbolised "new Rome" at Constantinople. From this derives: *** '''Albania'''. The two-headed eagle is the emblem of "Shqipëria" or ''Land of the Eagles'', which is known in English as [[Albania]] (see [[The Tale of the Eagle]] for the legendary origin of the name) *** '''Russian Empire'''. After the fall of Constantinople, the [[Russian Empire]] took the two-headed eagle as its own symbol. ** '''Charlemagne and Holy Roman Empire'''. After his crowning as the new Roman Emperor, [[Charlemagne]] adopted the ancient [[Aquila (Roman)|Roman eagle]] as his own symbol. The Holy Roman Empire born of his kingdom took the eagle, but the [[Habsburg]]s replaced the [[golden eagle]] by an [[imperial eagle]]. From this derives: *** '''Austria'''. The [[Austrian Empire]] had a two-headed eagle as its symbol. After the abolition of [[Austria-Hungary]], [[Austria]] took as its symbol a one-headed eagle in the modern [[coat of arms of Austria]]. *** '''Germany and Prussia'''. [[Prussia]], and later [[Germany]] have used a black eagle as their national symbol. *** '''Spain'''. The "Catholic Kings", Isabella and Ferdinand, used the [[Golden Eagle]] as a part of the royal shield. The eagle was on the Spanish shield until 1978. *The '''Seljuk Turks''' and [[Ottoman Turks]] used a double-headed eagle as coats-of-arms. ===Eagles as religious objects=== [[Image:Eaglelarcomuseum.jpg|thumb|right|Moche Eagle, A.D. 200, [[Larco Museum|Larco Museum Collection]], Lima, Peru.]] Eagle [[lectern]]s are very common in Christian churches and cathedrals. The eagle is the symbol used to depict [[John the Apostle]], whose writing most clearly witnesses the light and divinity of Christ. In art, John, as the presumed author of the Gospel, is often depicted with an eagle, which symbolizes the height he rose in the first chapter of his gospel. See [[Names of John]]. The eagle is a sacred bird in some cultures and the feathers of the eagle are central to many [[religious]] and [[Spirituality|spiritual]] customs, especially amongst [[Native Americans in the United States]] and [[First Nations|First Nations in Canada]], as well as among many of the peoples of [[Meso-America]]. Some Native American peoples revere eagles as sacred religious objects and the feathers and parts of [[Bald Eagle|Bald]] and [[Golden Eagles]] are often compared to the [[Bible]] and [[crucifix]]. Eagle feathers are often used in various ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery. In the cultures of the [[British Columbia Coast|Northwest Coast]], Eagle is also a supernatural being and also the ancestor and features in the heraldic crests of important clans known as [[totem poles]]. The [[Moche]] people of ancient [[Peru]] worshipped the animal and often depicted eagles in their art.<ref>Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. ''The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]].'' New York: [[Thames and Hudson]], 1997.</ref> Despite modern and historic Native American practices of giving eagle feathers to non-indigenous people and also members of other tribes who have been deemed worthy, current United States [[eagle feather law]] stipulates that only individuals of certifiable [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for [[religious]] or [[Spirituality|spiritual]] use.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/law/le65.html |title = National Eagle Repository |accessdate = 2007-11-20 |author = Office of Law Enforcement |work = Mountain-Prairie Region |publisher = [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] }}</ref> In Canada, poaching of eagle feathers for the booming U.S. market has sometimes resulted in the arrests of First Nations person for the crime.<ref>{{cite news | first = Lena | last = Sin | title = Charges laid in eagle-poaching case | url = http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=7037508c-70c7-4c47-9d3e-713a118e6b66&k=55151 | work = The Province | publisher = CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. | date = 2006-04-30 | accessdate = 2007-11-20 }}</ref> ===Eagles as organizational symbols=== [[Image:Flag_of_Serbia.svg|thumb|Serbian flag]] * '''Munro'''. The image of a Golden Eagle is displayed the coat of arms of one of Scotland's most powerful clans, [[Munro]]. Gaelic ''Rothach''. * '''Greece'''. The [[double-headed eagle]] is the emblem of the Greek sport clubs [[AEK]] (black eagle with open wings on yellow background) and [[PAOK]] (black eagle with closed wings on white background, as a symbol of mourning). It is a symbol of the clubs' origins, since both clubs were founded by Greeks who fled to Greece from Constantinople in 1922-23. The eagle itself is derived from the later version of the [[Roman Eagle]], the Byzantine- or East Roman eagle. * '''Italy'''. The Roman eagle is the symbol of the Roman sports club [[S.S. Lazio]]. * '''Nigeria'''. The [[Nigeria Football Association]], the nation's [[football (soccer)]] governing body, has a green eagle perched on a football as its organisational symbol and logo. The Nigerian national football team is known as the 'Super Eagles', the under-20 youth team as the 'Flying Eagles', and the under-17 national side as the 'Golden Eaglets'. They all have an eagle as their symbol. * '''Portugal'''. Eagle is the symbol of the Portuguese football team Sport Lisboa e [[Benfica]]. * '''Philippines''' . The Philippine Monkey-eating Eagle is the de jure National Bird of the country. * '''Turkey'''. ''Black Eagles'' is used for the Turkish sports club [[Beşiktaş J.K.]].Turkish Seljukian double headed eagle emblem. * '''México'''. Eagle is the mascot form [[Club America]]´s football club, since 1981. * '''Persian Empire''': the symbol of the Persian army was an eagle ==References== {{reflist}} *''Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists'' - Martin Collinson, [[British Birds (magazine)|British Birds]] vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323 *Bruguier, Leonard.[http://www.usd.edu/iais/veterans/feather.html A Warrior's Eagle Feather] ==See also== * [[Eagle (heraldry)]] ==External links== {{Wiktionary |eagle}} {{wikiquote|Eagles}} * [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/eagles/index.html PBS Nature: Eagles] *[http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=30 Eagle videos on the Internet Bird Collection] * [http://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/eagle-photos.html Eagle photos - including chick in nest] * [http://www.ub.edu/aligaperdiguera Web of the Conservation Biology Team-Bonelli's Eagle, of the University of Barcelona] * [http://www.eagleconservationalliance.org Eagle Conservation Alliance (ECA)] [[Category:Accipitridae]] [[Category:Eagles|*]] [[Category:Heraldic birds]] [[ar:عقاب]] [[ay:Paka]] [[bn:ঈগল]] [[zh-min-nan:Eng-á]] [[ba:Бөркөт]] [[bs:Orao]] [[bg:Орел]] [[ca:Àguila]] [[cs:Orel]] [[cy:Eryr]] [[da:Ørn]] [[pdc:Adler]] [[de:Adler (Biologie)]] [[nv:Atsá]] [[el:Αετός]] [[es:Águila]] [[eo:Aglo]] [[fa:عقاب]] [[fr:Aigle (oiseau)]] [[fur:Acuile]] [[gl:Aguia]] [[hak:Ên-tiâu]] [[ko:독수리류]] [[hr:Orlovi]] [[io:Aglo]] [[id:Elang]] [[jv:Elang]] [[pam:Agila]] [[ka:არწივი]] [[sw:Tai]] [[la:Aquila]] [[lt:Ereliai]] [[hu:Sas]] [[ms:Burung helang]] [[nah:Cuāuhtli]] [[nl:Arend (roofvogel)]] [[ja:鷲]] [[no:Ørner]] [[nn:Ørn]] [[nds:Aadler]] [[pl:Orły]] [[pt:Águia]] [[ru:Орлиные]] [[sq:Shqiponja]] [[simple:Eagle]] [[cu:Орьлъ]] [[sr:Орао]] [[fi:Kotkat]] [[sv:Örn]] [[te:గద్ద]] [[th:อินทรี]] [[tr:Kartal (kuş)]] [[yi:אדלער]] [[zh:鹰]]