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Eagle

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iEagle
Image:Eagle In Flight 2004-09-01.jpeg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genera

Several, see below.

This article is about the bird. For other uses, see Eagle (disambiguation).

Eagles are large birds of prey which inhabit mainly the Old World, with only two species (Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle) commonly found in North America, a few in South America, the (White-bellied Sea Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle) in Australia and the Philippine Eagle in the Philippine Archipelago. They are members of the bird order Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, according to alternative classification schemes), family Accipitridae and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other.

Eagles are differentiated from other broad-winged birds of prey mainly by their larger size, more powerful build, and heavier head and bill. Even the smallest eagles, like the Booted Eagle, which is comparable in size to a Common Buzzard or Red-tailed Hawk has relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from the vultures.

In Britain before 1678, Eagle referred specifically to the Golden Eagle, the other native species, the White-tailed Eagle, being known as the Erne. The modern name "Golden Eagle" for Aquila chrysaetos was introduced by the naturalist John Ray.

Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, and powerful talons. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable them to spot potential prey from a very long distance. This keen eyesight is primarily contributed by their extremely large pupils which cause minimal diffraction (spreading) of the incoming light.

Eagles build their nest in tall trees or on high cliffs. Their nests, which are sometimes called eyries, can grow to 10 feet in diameter and weigh as much as 2000 pounds.

Eagles are sometimes used in falconry. They appear prominently in myth and literature. In the Old World, such references are commonly to the Golden Eagle (or possibly closely related species found in warm climates).

Image:Wiki eagle.jpg

Contents

[edit] Taxonomy

For many years there has been some scientific debate as to whether the Accipitriformes are a separate order, or belong to the Falconiformes.

Major new research[citation needed] into eagle taxonomy suggests that the important genera Aquila and Hieraaetus are not composed of nearest relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these genera will soon take place, with some species being moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus.

[edit] Species

FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE

[edit] Eagles in culture

[edit] Eagles as national symbols

Image:Berg en Terblijt (Weapon).png

The eagle has been used by many nations as a national symbol, depicting power, beauty and independence.

  • Hellenistic Egypt. The Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt used it as their seal
  • Arabic world. Many Arabic states and organisations use eagles as symbols, e.g. the PLO.
Image:Aigle-napoleonienne-p1030180.jpg
Image:Selçuklu kartalı.jpg
  • Seljuk Turks and Ottoman Turks used a double-headed eagle as coats-of-arms.
  • USA. The United States has adopted the North American Bald Eagle as its national emblem. Although the Golden Eagle is found in North America, U.S. references to an unspecified "eagle" are often to the Bald Eagle; this point was not realized by an American coin die engraver, who, told to depict "an eagle", depicted a Golden Eagle; this error is the cause of the expression "illegal eagle".

[edit] Eagles as religious objects

In Jewish tradition the eagle is a symbol of true greatness, and the nation's greatest leaders such as the great sage of the Middle Ages Maimonides and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the modern day leader of world Jewry have been referred to by their peers and students as "The Great Eagle". The Torah compares God Himself to an eagle in Deuteronomy, 32.11-12. "As an eagle awakens its nest, hovering over its fledglings, it spreads its wings, taking them and carrying them on its pinions. [So] the Lord guided them [the Israelites] alone, and there was no alien deity with Him."

The eagle is a sacred bird in some cultures and the feathers of the eagle are central to many religious and spiritual customs, especially amongst Native Americans. Native Americans revere eagles as sacred religious objects and the feathers and parts of Bald and Golden Eagles are often compared to the Bible and crucifix. Eagle feathers are often used in various ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Despite modern and historic Native American practices of giving eagle feathers to non-Native Americans and Native American members of other tribes who have been deemed worthy, current United States eagle feather law stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual use.

[edit] Eagles as organizational symbols

[edit] References

  • Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists - Martin Collinson, British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323
  • Bruguier, Leonard.A Warrior's Eagle Feather

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Look up eagle in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

cy:Eryr da:Ørn pdc:Adler de:Adler (Biologie) es:Águila eo:Aglo fi:Eagle fr:Aigle (oiseau) fur:Acuile gl:Aguia hu:Sas ja:鷲 ko:독수리류 lt:Ereliai io:Aglo id:Elang it:Eagle he:עיט ka:არწივი la:Aquila ms:Burung helang no:Eagle nn:Ørn nah:Cuāuhtli nl:Arend (roofvogel) pl:Orły pt:Águia ru:Орёл (птица) simple:Eagle sv:Örn sw:Tai tr:Kartal (Aquila) zh:鹰

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