Eagle Bird - Learn about the king of the skies

The eagle bird is a skilled bird of prey, majestic, brave and has sharp, intelligent eyes. Find out more here!

The eagle bird is an extremely powerful bird of prey, with a majestic appearance, sharp eyes, the ability to see up to 2km away and the ability to fly very well. Thanks to these things, the eagle has become a symbol of strength and freedom.

Nowadays, the hobby of keeping eagles has become increasingly popular among high-end bird lovers because it not only has an expensive price but also shows the class of the owner.

In today's article, let's learn in detail about the nicebirds , habits and notes on eagle breeding areas to achieve the best results!

Origin & role of eagle

The eagle is a bird of prey in the order Accipitridae.

The eagle is a large bird of prey belonging to the order Accipitriformes, family Accipitridae.

According to scientific research, the ancestors of eagles appeared about 25 - 40 million years ago, from the Cenozoic era. They are believed to have evolved from a common ancestor with hawks but were larger in size, had better eyesight and hunting ability.

Currently, eagles appear and are distributed on most continents (except Antarctica). Of which, Asia and Africa are where the most diverse number of eagle species are found.

The eagle is the most powerful and majestic bird, so it has become a military symbol for many countries. For example, the symbol of the NSA - the US Intelligence Agency, the symbol of the Roman Empire, Babylon...

Besides, in religion, eagles are also mentioned in the Bible and myths.

Classification of eagles

Today, there are many different species of eagles. Below are the 3 main, most common groups, please join us to learn more.

True Eagles

Golden eagle image - Aquila chrysaetos.

These are eagles of the genus Quila, characterized by large size, long and strong wingspan, and often live in high mountains or vast plains.

Some notable species are as follows :

• Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
• Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti)
• African black eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
• White-cheeked eagle (Aquila fasciata)
• Bald Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Sea Eagles

An African fish eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer.

This is a group of eagles belonging to the genus Haliaeetuts with the common characteristics of liking to live near the sea, liking to eat fish, having strong legs, and sharp curved claws.

Some notable species :

• African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)
• White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
• Sanford's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi)
• White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

Forest Eagles

Image of a Forest Eagle - Forest Eagles.

A group of eagles belonging to the genera Spizaetus and Nisaetus, characterized by a compact body, a crest, preferring to live in dense forests and specializing in hunting small prey.

Some notable species :

• Mountain eagle eating snake
• Andaman Serpent Eagle
• Burmese Flowering Kite (Spilornis cheela)

There are also groups of eagles belonging to the genus Eutriorchis, genus Tarathopius, genus Ichthyophaga, genus Ictinaetus, genus Hieraaetus, genus Lophaetus, genus Harpyhaliaetus, genus Geranoaetus,...

Eagle appearance

An eagle is spreading its wings.

Although eagles are divided into many different species, they are generally considered large birds of prey with a strong, majestic appearance. Find out more details below.

• Body length : From 60 - 100 cm
• Wingspan : 1.5 - 2.5 m.
• Weight : Depending on the species, the Harpy line can weigh up to 10 kg, while the eagle only weighs 1 - 2 kg.
• Head : Large, round, looks very fierce.
• Beak : Curved, sharp, usually yellow or black in color.
• Eyes : Large, large pupils, usually halo, brown, orange or gray, with super vision that can see 1 - 2 km away.
• Wings : Long, wide and very strong, can fly for many hours in the air.
• Legs : strong, covered with thick scales, curved, sharp claws, especially the middle claw.
• Coat color : Depending on the species, it can be dark brown, black, gray or mixed.

Eagle behavior

Eagles prefer to live alone.

Eagles are considered to be the highest predators in nature, so they have many unique habits and behaviors to demonstrate their strength and resilience. Learn more here!

Lives alone or in pairs

Most eagles live alone throughout their lives, except when they pair up for breeding.

However, there is a species of bald eagle that chooses to be faithful to its mate for life, which is very rare among birds of prey.

Highly territorial

Eagles are one of the most territorial birds. They can spend hundreds of kilometers a day patrolling their territory to protect it from other birds of prey.

Is a skilled bird of prey

Eagles are extremely skilled birds of prey, using a combination of their extraordinary vision to search for prey from a distance, then swooping down at super speed and using their sharp talons and curved beaks to capture their prey in the blink of an eye.

They often eat small birds, rodents such as squirrels, mice, rabbits,... or even large animals such as baby antelopes,...

Excellent flight ability

Eagles have the ability to fly very well, they can fly up to 3000 meters high and know how to take advantage of aerodynamic lift to be able to fly for hours without flapping their wings too much.

Reproductive behavior

Eagles typically breed from late winter to early spring, depending on their habitat. They often choose to nest in dangerous and inaccessible places such as cliffs, tall trees or the edge of cliffs.

They build very sturdy nests, usually made of large tree branches that can weigh up to several hundred kilograms and can be used for many years. In particular, the father and mother birds coordinate very well in incubating eggs together and taking care of the chicks together.

Notes when raising eagles

An eagle being tamed.

Nowadays, eagles are loved by many long-time bird keepers because of their strength and personality. However, if you want to successfully raise this bird of prey, you need to pay attention to the following points!

Legal and licensing preparation

This is very important because there are many species of eagles listed in the Red Book or strictly protected by the CITES convention. Therefore, before deciding to raise this bird, you need to prepare the following:

• Check to see if your locality or country prohibits keeping this type of eagle?
• Is there a certificate of origin that proves no illegal eagle hunting?
• Currently, in Vietnam, it is prohibited to raise wild eagles, unless you buy them from certified breeders.

Prepare a spacious living environment

Eagles need a comfortable, spacious living space to fly and are not suitable for small cages/cages. You need to prepare their living environment as follows:

• Semi-wild cage or large aviary, at least 5 - 10m long, over 3m high.
• There is a high perch and a place to sunbathe.
• The fence must be sturdy because eagles can use their strong talons to break into the cage.

Provide a meat-rich diet

Eagles are birds of prey and obligate carnivores, so when keeping them in captivity, you need to provide them with enough meat every day. Specifically as follows:

• Main food : Raw meat such as small birds, chicks, mice, rabbits, fish,...
• Foods to avoid : Do not feed too much raw organs because it will affect the digestive system.

Needs training and taming

Eagles are fierce, strong and accustomed to wild life, so when keeping them in captivity, you need to spend time training and taming them. Note the following:

• It takes a lot of experience training birds of prey because not all eagles are easy to tame.
• Must train properly and be patient.
• Do not raise birds without guidance from hunting bird training experts.

Attention to safety issues

Eagles are quite aggressive. Although they are well domesticated, they can still attack humans if they feel threatened, so you should not let children or strangers come into close contact without taking safety measures to avoid unfortunate risks.

Long term costs

Raising eagles requires a source of expenses including the cost of legally purchasing breeds up to tens or hundreds of millions, the cost of daily fresh food, medical expenses, etc.

And this bird can live from 20 to 40 years, so you need to pay close attention before deciding to raise it to avoid not meeting the care conditions and abandoning it halfway.

Eagle price list

Currently, eagles are commonly sold in Vietnam at many different prices, depending on age, origin and purity. For more details, you can refer to the following price list.

Note :

• Male eagles are usually more expensive than female eagles.
• You should buy eagles from reputable stores and breeding farms to ensure origin, quality and warranty,...
• You need to equip yourself with knowledge, experience and spend a lot of time to be able to care for and train eagles effectively.

Interesting facts about eagles

Let's learn some super interesting facts about eagles, we guarantee you will be surprised by this unique information.

• A squeeze from an eagle's foot has a force of 300 - 700 PSI - equivalent to the bite force of a large dog.
• Eagles' eyes can rotate flexibly and have two focus points (dual fovea) allowing them to see both near and far.
• Eagles' eyesight is 4 - 8 times better than human eyesight.
• There is a legend that eagles have the ability to “regenerate”. When they reach 40 years old, their beaks are blunt and their claws are weak, so they will find a quiet place, break their beaks and nails so they can grow back and live for a few more decades. However, this is just a word of mouth story.
• Eagles only eat live prey, not carrion.
• Eagle nests can be up to 3 meters wide and weigh hundreds of kilograms - making them among the largest bird nests in the world.

Questions and answers about eagles

What does the eagle symbolize?

The eagle is a symbol of strength, courage and immortality.

How much is a falcon?

The eagle is a fairly common breed and has a price range of only 1.2 - 1.5 million VND/juvenile, from 3.5 - 10 million VND for an adult.

How far can an eagle see?

Eagles can see from 1 to 2 km away thanks to their fovea having about 1 million cone cells/mm.

Where do eagles live?

Eagles typically live in mountainous areas and primary forests where there is little or no sign of humans.

Is it forbidden to raise eagles in Vietnam?

It depends on what type of eagle you are raising and whether they are in the group of animals banned from hunting and keeping in captivity. It is best to buy eagles from reputable breeders, not wild-caught eagles.

Eagle image collection

To help you see and recognize different species of eagles, below we have collected many beautiful moments of the "king of the sky". Please enjoy them now!

An eagle is swooping over the water to hunt.

The eagle and its nest on the steep, dangerous cliff.

The sharp eyes and sharp beak of the eagle.

Image of rare young brown-headed eagle.

An eagle is perched by the stream.

A white-bellied sea eagle - Haliaeetus leucogaster.

Image of an African black eagle soaring in the sky.

Hopefully, the information that nicebirds.net shares above will help you better understand the eagle - the bird associated with the title "king of the sky". If you are an experienced bird player, have time and want to own a strong, individual bird, the eagle is definitely not a bad choice!

Don't forget to visit our Blog section every day to learn more about many other interesting and impressive bird species. Who knows, you might choose the most suitable birds for yourself.