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  Profile

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  In flight

Birds of Prey

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

• uncommon
• 80 km/h
• Least Concern

Mediterranean cliff hunter that strikes rabbits and partridges in mid-air. Don't keep this one waiting.

Population

Roughly 21,000-24,000 mature individuals globally (Europe holds only ~2,100-2,500 of these)

Habitat

Rocky terrain, cliffs, canyons, and gorges in low mountains and hills, usually near open country used for hunting; from near sea level up to ~1,500-2,000 m, occasionally higher in parts of Asia

Fun fact

Bonelli's Eagles frequently hunt in tandem pairs, with one bird flushing prey such as partridges or pigeons toward its waiting partner — a cooperative strategy that lifts hunting success well above what either bird manages alone.

Range

Patchy distribution across the Mediterranean basin (Iberia, NW Africa) east through the Middle East and across southern Asia (Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India) to southern China, Indochina, and Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands

Diet

Mainly birds (partridges, pigeons, corvids, jackdaws) and European rabbits, with some reptiles (e.g. ocellated lizards) and other mammals; pairs often hunt cooperatively in tandem

Size

0.65 m

Wingspan

1.6 m

Lifespan

20 years