Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

2003-06-15T20:14:09Z

62.47.223.231:

[[de:Steinadler]]
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" align="right" cellpadding="2" width="233">
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>'''Golden Eagle'''</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[image:goldie.JPG]]</td></tr>
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>'''[[Scientific classification]]'''</th></tr>
<tr><td>
<table align="center"><tr>
<td>[[Kingdom (biology)|Kingdom]]: </td><td>[[Animal]]ia </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Phylum (biology)|Phylum]]: </td><td>[[Chordate|Chordata]] </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Class (biology)|Class]]: </td><td>[[bird|Aves]] </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Order (biology)|Order]]: </td><td>[[Accipitriformes]]* </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Family (biology)|Family]]: </td><td>[[Accipitridae]] </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Genus]]: </td><td>''[[Eagle|Aquila]]'' </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>'''[[Species]]:''' </td><td>'''''chrysaetos ''''' </td></tr>
</table><br>(*) Scientists argue whether [[Accipitriformes]] are a separate order, or belong to the [[Falconiformes]].
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor="pink">'''[[Binomial nomenclature|Binomial name]]'''</th></tr>
<tr><th align="center">''Aquila chrysaetos''</th></tr>
</table>

The '''Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is one of the best known [[bird of prey|birds of prey]] in the world. It is about 90 cm in length, has a wingspan of 220 cm and a weight of 5 kg. This [[eagle]] belongs to the family [[Accipitridae]].

Once the Golden Eagle lived in all temperate Europe, North Asia, North America, North Africa and Japan. In most areas this bird now is a mountain-dweller, but in former centuries it was also distributed in the plains and the forests.

There was a great decline in Central Europe, where the Golden Eagle now is restricted to the [[Alps]]. In [[Great Britain|Britain]], there are about 500 birds left in the Scottish highlands. In [[North America]] the situation is not as dramatic, but there has been a noticeable decline as well.

[[Image:Golden_Eagle_(small_illustration).jpg]]

A pair of Golden Eagles build several eyries within their territory. They use them alternately for several years. The nest consists of heavy tree branches, upholstered with grass.

Old eyries may be 2 m in diameter and 1 m in height, since the eagles enlarge their nests every year. If the eyrie is situated on a tree it may happen, that the supporting tree branches break due to the weight of the nest.

The female lays two eggs between January and May (depending on the area). After 45 days the youngs hatch. They are entirely white and are fed for fifty days , then they are able to make the first flight attempts and eat on their own. In
most cases only the older young survives, while the younger one dies before leaving the eyrie.

The couple remains together for life. They often have a division of labour while hunting: one partner drives the prey to the lurking other one. The prey is [[marmot]]s, [[hare]]s and [[mouse|mice]], sometimes [[bird]]s, [[marten]]s, [[fox]]es and young [[deer]]. Large [[mammal]]s like [[chamois]] or adult deers can only be taken if they are wounded or sick.

In Central Asia, Golden Eagles sometimes are trained for [[hawking]], and in [[Kazakhstan]] there are still hunters using these eagles in order to catch deer and antelopes.

There are five [[subspecies]] of Golden Eagle:

* the '''Eurasian Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos''),
* the '''American Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos canadensis''),
* the '''Spanish Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos homeryi''),
* the '''Japanese Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos japonica''), and
* the '''Russian Berkut''' (''Aquila chrysaetos daphanea'').

Field Guide/Birds/Pandion haliaetus

2003-06-15T12:49:59Z

62.47.223.231:

[[de:Fischadler]]
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" align="right" cellpading="2">
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>'''Osprey'''</th></tr>
<tr><td>
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center">[[Image:Ospreysmall.jpeg]]<br><center><small>[[Media:Image:osprey.jpg|Larger image]]</small></center></td></tr>
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>'''[[Scientific classification]]'''</th></tr>
<tr><td>
<table align="center"><tr>
<td>[[Kingdom (biology)|Kingdom]]: </td><td>[[Animal]]ia </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Phylum (biology)|Phylum]]: </td><td>[[Chordate|Chordata]] </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Class (biology)|Class]]: </td><td>[[bird|Aves]] </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Order (biology)|Order]]: </td><td>[[raptor|Accipitriformes]] </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Family (biology)|Family]]: </td><td>[[Pandionidae]] </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>[[Genus]]: </td><td>''[[Pandion]]'' </td></tr>
<tr>
<td>'''[[Species]]:''' </td><td>'''''haliaetus''''' </td></tr>
</table>
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor="pink">'''[[Binomial nomenclature|Binomial name]]'''</th></tr>
<tr><th align="center">''Pandion haliaetus'' </th></tr>
</table>

The '''Osprey''' (''Pandion haliaetus'') is a medium large [[raptor]] which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide, predominantly coastal distribution. It is sometimes known by the misnomers ''Fish Hawk'' or ''Fish Eagle''.

Ospreys are particularly well adapted to their diet, with a reversible outer toe, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards facing scales on its talons which act as barbs to help it catch [[fish]].

It is the sole member of the family ''Pandionidae'', which has traditionally been regarded as part of the order [[hawk|Accipitriformes]] but is sometimes been grouped with the [[Ciconiiformes]].

It has white underparts and long, narrow wings with four "fingers", which give it a very distinctive appearance.

It locates its prey from the air, often hovering prior to plunging feet-first into the water to sieze a fish. As it rises back into flight the fish is turned head forward to reduce [[drag]].

The nest is a large heap of sticks built in trees, rocky outcrops, telephone poles or artificial platforms.

[[Europe|European]] breeders winter in [[Africa]].

[[United States|American]] and [[Canada|Canadian]] breeders winter in [[South America]], although some stay in the southernmost [[USA]] states such as [[Florida]] and [[California]].

The osprey is the [[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|official bird]] of [[Nova Scotia]].

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Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

Field Guide/Birds/Pandion haliaetus