Birds · Accipitriformes · Accipitridae

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Bonelli's eagle is a medium-sized Mediterranean raptor, agile and powerful, that hunts rabbits, partridges, pigeons and crows in low, very fast flights. It breeds on rock faces in middle mountain ranges. Spain holds the largest population in western Europe, and even so the species is listed as vulnerable at national level: electrocution on power lines and direct persecution are its main causes of death.

Weight

1.5 kg – 2.5 kg

Size

55 cm – 74 cm

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

MountainGrasslandCarnivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Mountain Grassland

28countries 28parks43same family

Fun facts

GeneralOne of the most threatened raptors in Spain; it takes rabbits and pigeons in a low, fast pass.
Electrocution on power poles is its leading cause of unnatural death in Spain: making dangerous lines safe is the conservation measure that has most improved its survival in recent decades.
It hunts as a pair with remarkable coordination: one adult flushes the prey and the other intercepts it, a technique that lets it bring down animals as large and fast as a hare or a partridge in full flight.