Spotted Eagle

Brief #

Description #

The greater spotted eagle is a medium-sized, rather bulky and compact eagle. Normally, it is black-brown with a contrasting yellow cere. This species has a short neck but has a large, often rather shaggy-naped head with a strong bill and a short gape-line with round nostrils. The wings are broad and somewhat long, while the tail is relatively short and rounded. The overall effect of the broad wings and short tail can give them an almost vulture-like silhouette. The feet are large. The juvenile greater spotted eagle is generally uniformly black-brown with whitish to yellowish drop-shaped spots. Some appear very heavily spotted all over, others less so, but always show an obvious row of spots along upperwing coverts, forming clear wing bars tail and flight feathers, except the outer primaries. The feathers underneath on juveniles are often broadly cream tipped, often showing some buffy streaks below, especially on the flanks and trousers.

Gallery #