Photo: Ezra Sheyner / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Steppe Eagle
Aquila nipalensis
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) — 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 Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 2.7 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Aquila
- Species nipalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.7 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
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Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Steppe Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Steppe Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL c.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.7 kg, with a wing length of about 56 cm and a tail of around 27.1 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Steppe Eagle?
The Steppe Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 2.7 kg.
Where does the Steppe Eagle live?
The Steppe Eagle is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL c, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Steppe Eagle belong to?
The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Steppe Eagle eat?
The Steppe Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Steppe Eagle migrate?
The Steppe Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Steppe Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Steppe Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Steppe Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Steppe Eagle's range?
The Steppe Eagle has a mapped global range of about 6.9 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.
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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.