Bird · GBIF taxon 2480510
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Aquila adalbertiAlso known as Iberian Imperial Eagle, Adalbert's Eagle, Spanish Eagle, White-shouldered Eagle
Spanish Imperial Eagles reign over the dehesas and oak savannas of the Iberian Peninsula, soaring effortlessly on broad wings in search of prey. Mated pairs defend permanent year-round territories, building massive stick nests high in cork oaks, stone pines, or power pylons. Adults display striking dark chocolate plumage framed by brilliant white epaulettes along the shoulders and a pale creamy nape.
Apex PredatorIberian NativeDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- European Rabbit
- Red-legged Partridge
- Iberian Hare
Predators
- Eurasian Eagle-Owl
ThreatsElectrocution on power lines, illegal poisoning, habitat loss, and rabbit disease epidemics
HabitatsDehesas, Mediterranean oak woodlands, alluvial plains, and pine forests
Life span20–25 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAccipitridae
- SpeciesAquila adalberti
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance using optics.
- What to notice
- Look for large dark raptors with prominent white leading wing edges soaring over Spanish or Portuguese woodlands.
- Support conservation
- Maintain a distance of at least 500 meters from known nest sites and never use drones near breeding pairs.
Responsible observation
- Optics Preferred: Use high-powered binoculars or a spotting scope to observe adults from afar without disturbing their behavior.
- Breeding Season Space: Stay well away from active nest trees between February and July to prevent egg or chick abandonment.
- Habitat Spotting: Look for soaring birds over open pastureland interspersed with mature Mediterranean oak trees.
Primary Prey (c) Alexis Lours, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Lours · cc-by
Competitor Martin Mecnarowski (http://www.photomecan.eu/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Вых Пыхманн, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Andrew Bazdyrev, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Bazdyrev · cc-by
Close Relative Giles Laurent / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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