Wildlifeof China
Steppe Eagle
Birds of Prey
Photo: (c) موسی مزینانیان Mousa Mazinanian, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Aquila nipalensis
Basic stats
Diet
Ground squirrels on the breeding ground, plus other small mammals and prey
Habitat
The only eagle to nest primarily on the ground
Clutch size
1–3 eggs; usually 1–2 young fledge
Size
60–89cm
Weight
Wintering birds in southern Africa averaged 3.02kg
The steppe eagle is a large bird of prey, 60–89cm long and mainly dark brown, with a longish but very thick neck, a relatively small head with a strong bill and long gape-line, long wings, a longish rounded tail and markedly well-feathered legs. It is a specialised predator of ground squirrels on the breeding ground, also taking other small mammals and prey when squirrels are scarce (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is the only eagle to nest primarily on the ground, usually laying one to three eggs, with one or two young fledging in successful nests. It undertakes a massive migration from essentially its entire breeding range, moving en masse past major flyways such as those of the Middle East, the Red Sea and the Himalayas (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Steppe Eagle eat?
- Ground squirrels on the breeding ground, plus other small mammals and prey
- What habitat does the Steppe Eagle live in?
- The only eagle to nest primarily on the ground
- How many eggs does the Steppe Eagle lay?
- 1–3 eggs; usually 1–2 young fledge
- How big is the Steppe Eagle?
- 60–89cm
- How much does the Steppe Eagle weigh?
- Wintering birds in southern Africa averaged 3.02kg