Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

2005-05-07T18:24:16Z

80.186.248.122:

{{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = Golden Eagle}}
{{Taxobox_image | image = [[Image:Goldie.JPG|Golden Eagle|200px]] | caption =}}
{{Taxobox_begin_placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox_regnum_entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox_phylum_entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox_classis_entry | taxon = [[Bird|Aves]]}}
{{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = [[Falconiformes]]}}
{{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = [[Accipitridae]]}}
{{Taxobox_genus_entry | taxon = '''''[[Eagle|Aquila]]'''''}}
{{Taxobox_species_entry | taxon = '''''chrysaetos'''''}}
{{Taxobox_end_placement}}
{{Taxobox_section_binomial | color = pink | binomial_name = Aquila chrysaetos | author = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] | date = [[1758]]}}
{{Taxobox_end}}

The '''Golden Eagle''' (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is one of the best known [[bird of prey|birds of prey]] in the world. Like all [[eagle]]s, it 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 [[Scotland|Scottish]] highlands. In North America the situation is not as dramatic, but there has been a noticeable decline as well. Efforts are also being made to re-introduce the species in [[Ireland]], where they had been extinct since the early 20th Century. 35 birds have been released into the wild since [[2001]].

[[Image:GoldenEagle-Nova.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A five year-old American Golden Eagle.]]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 metres in diameter and 1 metre in height, as the eagles enlarge their nests every year. If the eyrie is situated on a tree it may happen that the supporting tree branches break because of 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 before they are able to make their first flight attempts and eat on their own. In most cases only the older chick 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 its waiting partner. 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 deer can only be taken if they are wounded or sick.

Adult Golden Eagles have an average length of 75-85 cm (30-34"), a wingspan of 175-200 cm (70-80"), and a weight of 3 to 5 kg. As in all birds of prey, the females are generally slightly larger than the males.

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

[[Image:Hunting with Golden Eagles .jpg|thumb|The trained hunting Burgut - Golden Eagle - of Eastern Turkestan. 1870s]]

[[Image:Golden Eagle (small illustration).jpg|thumb|]]
{{commons|Category:Aquila chrysaetos}}

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

* '''Eurasian Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. chrysaetos'')
* '''American Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. canadensis'')
* '''Spanish Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. homeryi'')
* '''Japanese Golden Eagle''' (''A. c. japonica'')
* '''Russian Berkut''' (''A. c. daphanea'')

[[Category:Fauna of the Alps]]
[[Category:Eagles]]

[[bg:Скален орел]]
[[da:Kongeørn]]
[[de:Steinadler]]
[[eo:Reĝa aglo]]
[[fi:Maakotka]]
[[fr:Aigle royal]]
[[fy:Keningsearn]]
[[gl:Aguia real]]
[[ja:イヌワシ]]
[[lt:Kilnusis erelis]]
[[nl:Steenarend]]
[[pl:Orzeł przedni]]
[[sv:Kungsörn]]

Field Guide/Birds/Pandion haliaetus

2005-05-01T13:08:08Z

80.186.248.122: fi

{{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = Osprey}}
{{Taxobox_image | image = [[Image:Ospreysmall.jpeg]] | caption = [[media:Image:osprey.jpg|Larger image]]}}
{{Taxobox_begin_placement | color = pink}}
{{Taxobox_regnum_entry | taxon = [[Animal]]ia}}
{{Taxobox_phylum_entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
{{Taxobox_classis_entry | taxon = [[Aves]]}}
{{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = [[Falconiformes]]}}
{{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = '''Pandionidae'''}}
{{Taxobox_genus_entry | taxon = '''''Pandion'''''}}
{{Taxobox_species_entry | taxon = '''''haliaetus'''''}}
{{Taxobox_end_placement}}
{{Taxobox_section_binomial_parens | color = pink | binomial_name = Pandion haliaetus | author = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]] | date = [[1758]]}}
{{Taxobox_end}}
The '''Osprey''' (''Pandion haliaetus'') is a medium large [[bird of prey|raptor]] which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. It is sometimes known by the misnomers Fish Hawk, Sea Hawk or Fish Eagle. It is the only member of the genus ''Pandion'' ([[Marie Jules César Savigny|Savigny]], [[1809]]).

The Osprey is is 52-60cm long with a 152-167cm wingspan. It has white underparts and long, narrow wings with four "fingers", which give it a very distinctive appearance.

The Osprey is particularly well adapted to its diet, with reversible outer toes, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help catch [[fish]].

[[Image:OspreyNASA.jpg|thumb|left|250px|An osprey preparing to dive.]]
It locates its prey from the air, often hovering prior to plunging feet-first into the water to seize a fish. As it rises back into flight the fish is turned head forward to reduce [[drag (physics)|drag]]. The feet are such effective tools for grasping fish that, on occasion, Ospreys have drowned because they were unable to release their grip on a fish that was heavier than expected.

It breeds by freshwater lakes, and sometimes on coastal brackish waters. The nest is a large heap of sticks built in trees, rocky outcrops, telephone poles or artificial platforms. In some regions with high Osprey densities, such as Chesapeake Bay, USA, most Ospreys do not start breeding until they are five to seven years old. Many of the structures they need to build nests on are already taken. If there are no nesting sites available, young Ospreys may be forced to delay breeding.

Ospreys usually mate for life. In March or earlier depending on region, they begin a five-month period of partnership to raise their young. Females lay 3–4 four [[The biology of eggs|egg]]s by late April, and rely on the size of their nest to help conserve heat. The eggs are approximately the size of [[chicken]] eggs, and cinnamon colored. The eggs generally incubate for 5 weeks. After hatching, 2-ounce chicks become fliers within eight weeks. When food is scarce, the first chicks to hatch are most likely to survive.

[[Europe|European]] breeders winter in [[Africa]]. [[United States|American]] and [[Canada|Canadian]] breeders winter in [[South America]], although some stay in the southernmost [[United States|USA]] states such as [[Florida]] and [[California]]. [[Australasian]] Ospreys tend not to [[bird migration|migrate]].

The Osprey is the [[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|official bird]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in [[Canada]] and [[Sudermannia]] in [[Sweden]].

The Osprey differs in several respects from the other diurnal birds of prey, and has always presented something of a riddle to the taxonomist. Here it is treated as the sole member of the family '''Pandionidae''', and the family listed in its traditional place as part of the order [[Falconiformes]]. Other schemes place it alongside the hawks and eagles in the family [[Accipitridae]]—which itself can be regarded as making up the bulk of the order [[Accipitriformes]] or else be lumped with the [[Falconidae]] into [[Falconiformes]]— and others again group it alongside the other raptors in a greatly enlarged [[Ciconiiformes]].

[[Image:Osprey01usfs.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Osprey soaring.]]
Twenty to thirty years ago, Ospreys in some regions faced possible extinction, because the species could not produce enough young to maintain the population. Since the ban of [[DDT]] in many countries in the early 1970s, together with reduced persecution, the Ospreys, as well as other affected [[bird of prey]] species are making significant recoveries.

==See also==
*The Osprey was depicted on the 1986 series [[Canadian dollar|Canadian $10 note]].
*[[Birdwatching]]
*[[Ornithology]]
*[[V-22 Osprey]] (aircraft)

==External links==
*[http://www.rspb.org/reserves/guide/a/abernethyforest/diary/index.asp RSPB UK Osprey Diary]
*[http://www.ospreys.org.uk/AWOP/Update.htm For numerous links to information about ospreys.]

[[Category:Birds of prey]]

[[da:Fiskeørn]]
[[de:Fischadler]]
[[eo:Fiŝaglo]]
[[fi:Kalasääski]]
[[fr:Balbuzard]]
[[gl:Aguia peixeira]]
[[ja:ミサゴ]]
[[nl:Visarend]]
[[pl:Rybołów]]
[[sl:Ribji orel]]
[[sv:Fiskgjuse]]

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Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

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