30 Amazing Facts about Eagle | Amazing Facts 4U
- There are more than 60 different species of eagles.
- Eagles are different from many other birds of prey mainly by their larger size, more powerful build, heavier head, and large, hooked beaks.
- Eagles have large eyes in proportion to their heads and very large pupils. Eagles’ eyes have a million light-sensitive cells per square mm of the retina, five times more than a human’s 200,000.
- While humans see just three basic colors, eagles see five. This enables them to spot even well-camouflaged prey from a very long distance. Some eagles can spot an animal the size of a rabbit up to two miles away!
- The life span of an eagle is about 25 to 35 years.
- An eagle carries about 7,000 feathers which are very strong.
- Some eagles are built with short wings and long tails enabling them to hunt in the tight confines of a forest, while others have short tails and broad long wings allowing them to soar high above open plains and water.
- To defend their territories and attract a mate, bald eagles put on spectacular aerial displays including death-defying swoops and seemingly suicidal dogfights that involve locking talons with another bird and free-falling in a spiral.
- Once a mating partner is found, two birds will mate for life unless one eagle dies or disappears.
- Both the male and female build the nest, but the female chooses the nest tree. Both will defend the nest territory which is usually several square miles.
- Eagles lay 1 to 3 eggs which are about 3 inches long. Both females and males incubate the eggs for about 35 days. The male shares in bringing food to his mate. There is almost always at least one adult on the nest for the first two weeks.
- An older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. Amazingly adults do not intervene.
- Eagles build their nests called eyries on high cliffs or in tall trees. Eagles tend to use the same nests year after year. Each spring, they repair and refurbish the nest.
- Over the years the nest can grow very large up to 13 ft deep, 8 ft wide, and weighing 1 ton or more.
- The Harpy Eagle and the Philippine Eagle have wings that spread 2.5m across and use their massive, sharp talons (claws), to kill and carry off prey as large as deer and monkeys.
- The amazing fact is that the eagle talon’s strike is so powerful to be twice the force of a rifle bullet.
- It has been estimated that the gripping power (Kg by square inch) of the Eagle is ten times greater than that of a human.
- The golden eagle is the national symbol of Mexico and a protected national treasure in the United States. It is North America’s largest bird of prey.
- In Greece, Golden Eagles eat turtles, dropping them from great heights onto rocks to break open their armored shells.
- Although most eagles are carnivorous the African Vulturine Fish Eagle is primarily a vegetarian, feeding on rich oil palm fruits.
- Eagles can climb up to 3000 meters (10,00 Ft) using convention currents soaring for hours. When cruising, they can fly about 65 km/hr (40 mph).
- Eagles attack their prey by swooping down on them at an angle. They can reach amazing speeds of up to 160 km/hr (100 mph) when diving.
- The highly developed talon of the Bald Eagle’s hind toe is used to pierce the vital areas of prey while it is held immobile by the front toes.
- Recognized by its white head, brown body, and hooked yellow beak, the bald eagle has been the national emblem of the United States of America since 1782. The Great Seal of the United States also features a bald eagle. Actually, it is not bald.
- Bald eagles feast on fish, ducks, snakes, and turtles generally living near water.
- Though bald eagles can’t swim, they can cross water without flying over it. They will sit in the water and row themselves across with their wings.
- Bald eagles have no sense of smell, but they can taste.
- Whenever a Bald Eagle migrates south it always goes to the same spot and when it returns north it always goes back to the same spot.
- Native Americans historically gave eagle feathers to non-indigenous people and also members of other tribes who were deemed worthy.
- Conservation efforts are helping some species such as the Bald Eagle which has made a dramatic comeback in the U.S. over the last few decades. The bald eagle was declared endangered species in 1967 but has been removed from the list in 2007.
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