Aquila rapax vindhiana

(Franklin, 1831)

Vernacular names
English : Asian tawny eagle
French : Aigle ravisseur indien

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Accipitriformes
Family : Accipitridae
Notes : 2 other subspecies known.

Identification
Medium-sized eagle growing to 75 cm in length, 1.83 m in wingspan and weight up to 3 kg. Dark grey bill with yellow cere, yellow feet. Two plumage variants known, either fully dark brown, or light beige-brown with dark flight feathers.

Range and habitat
The subspecies occurs in southern Asia, from Pakistan and India, east to Myanmar. Species also found in Africa. Lives in open woodlands, savannas, semi-deserts and steppes, to 3000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is adaptable and remains, in India, the commonest eagle. However it is declining alarmingly because of habitat loss for farming.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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