Lesser Spotted Eagle

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iLesser Spotted Eagle

LC<ref>BirdLife International (2004). Aquila pomarina. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern </ref>

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Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Aquila
Species:	A. pomarina

Binomial name

Aquila pomarina
Brehm, 1831

Image:Aquila pomarina dis.PNG

Summer (light green) and winter (blue) ranges of A. pomarina

The Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) is a large bird of prey. It is about 60 cm in length and has a wingspan of 150cm. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. The birds formerly considered to be the resident Indian race of this species are now considered a separate species, the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata<ref>Rasmussen P. C., Anderton J (2005) Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Vols 1& 2. Washington DC and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions.</ref>

These species and their relative, the Greater Spotted Eagle, stand apart from all other true eagles. They should probably better be removed from the genus Aquila and united with the Long-crested Eagle in Lophaetus, or all four should be moved to Ictinaetus^{[citation needed]}.

It breeds in central and eastern Europe and winters in Africa. This eagle lays 1-3 eggs in a tree nest.

This is a species of open or lightly wooded country, which hunts small mammals and similar terrestrial prey.

This is a medium-sized eagle. Its head and wing coverts are pale brown and contrast with the generally dark plumage. The head and bill are small for an eagle. There is often a white patch on the upperwings. The juvenile has less contrast in the wings, but larger areas of white.

The call is a dog-like yip.

This is a wary species in Europe, but in India can be approached quite closely for a large raptor.