There are more than 60 different species of eagle.

Eagles are different from many other

birds of prey mainly by their larger size, more powerful build, and heavier head and beak. Most
eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from vultures.
Eagles have unusual eyes. They are very large in proportion to their heads and have
extremely large pupils. Eagles’ eyes have a million light-sensitive cells per square mm of
retina, five times more that a human’s 200,000. While humans see just three basic colours,
eagles see five. These adaptations gives eagles extremely keen eyesight and enable them to
spot even well-camouflaged potential prey from a very long distance. In fact the eagles’ vision
is among the sharpest of any animal and studies suggest that some eagles can spot an animal
the size of a rabbit up to two miles away! Many eagle species lay two eggs, but the older, larger
chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. Adults do not intervene. The
Harpy Eagle and the Philippine Eagle have wings that spread 2.5m across and use their
massive, sharp talons, to kill and carry off prey as large as deer and monkeys.
In Greece, Golden Eagles eat turtles, dropping them from great heights onto rocks to
break open their armoured shells. Although most eagles are carnivorous the African Vulturine
Fish-Eagle is primarily a vegetarian, feeding on rich oil palm fruits. Some eagles are built with
short wings and long tails enabling them to hunt in the tight confines of a forest, while others
are have short tails and broad long wings allowing them to soar high above open plains and
water.
Golden eagles in Wyoming have been observed foraging areas that cover 100 square
miles. 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. Eagles are admired the world over as living
symbols of power, freedom, and transcendence. The spot on which an eagle landed dictated to
the ancient Aztecs the place where they were to build a city. In some religions, high-soaring
eagles are believed to touch the face of God. Native Americans historically gave eagle feathers
to non-indigenous people and also members of other tribes who were deemed worthy. Although
many eagle populations are dwindling as a result of habitat destruction, hunting, and pollution,
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.