Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Similar to the Golden Eagle, the Eastern Imperial is a large, dark brown eagle with lighter tawny yellow or rufous pink feathers
on the back of the head, nape and "shoulders," but the Eastern Imperial generally has a lighter head, darker body and has white or mottled white patches
on its body, particularly its lower belly and rump (the juvenile Golden also has white in wing and tail).
The Imperial's upper beak base is less yellow than the Golden Eagle. Both are some 70-85cm in length
and have a 180-220 cm (6-7 foot) wingspan.
The Western (Iberian) Imperial Eagle has more white on its "shoulders".
The name "Imperial" is because the bird was adopted as the symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The Eastern Imperial Eagle ranges from southeast Europe through to Central Asia, moving south to
Africa/India in the northern winter. Populations are declining partly through intensive felling of large, old trees
that the bird needs for nesting.