Photo: Sumeet Moghe / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Aquila heliaca
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) — Birds of Prey of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 3.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Aquila
- Species heliaca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.1 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Endangered
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eastern Imperial Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Eastern Imperial Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL se Europe to c Siberia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.1 kg, with a wing length of about 58.2 cm and a tail of around 31.6 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eastern Imperial Eagle?
The Eastern Imperial Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 3.1 kg.
Where does the Eastern Imperial Eagle live?
The Eastern Imperial Eagle is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL se Europe to c Siberia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Eastern Imperial Eagle belong to?
The Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Eastern Imperial Eagle eat?
The Eastern Imperial Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Eastern Imperial Eagle migrate?
The Eastern Imperial Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Eastern Imperial Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Eastern Imperial Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Eastern Imperial Eagle — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eastern Imperial Eagle's range?
The Eastern Imperial Eagle has a mapped global range of about 9.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Accipitridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Birds of Prey
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.