Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus (Gmelin, 1788)

		light morph dark morph
2006-07-22 National Academy of Sciences Stationary, Janibek region, West Kazakhstan oblast 2010-05-15 Middle current of Ile river, lower than Kapchagai	© Askar Isabekov © Askar Isabekov

Distribution

The breeding recorded in many parts of Kazakhstan but mostly in mountains of east and south-east of country. On migration occurs in south, south-east and west Kazakhstan. Please see detailed distribution in the section Subspecies.

Biology

Rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the riparian forests, deciduous and coniferous forests of plains and mountains with the nearby placed open landscapes. Appears from the mid-March, but mainly in April. Breeds in separate pairs at least 2 km apart. Nest is built mainly on the tree (walnut, ash, spruce) at 5-10 m above the ground, and very rare on rocks; nest is constructed from the dry twigs and is lined with dry grass stems and often with fresh twigs with leaves. Nest used for some years. Laying of 1-2 eggs is in mid-April – May. Only female incubates, male feeds it. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge in July – August. Autumn migration begins in the end of August; the last birds observed in the end of October.

Subspecies

Hieraaetus pennatus pennatus (Gmelin, 1788) Description. The smaller race of species. Male wing length 355-386 (378), female 390-411 (403) mm. Distribution. Breeds in Dzhungar Alatau, Northern and Western Tien Shan, sporadically in Ile delta, Karkaralinsk, Bayanaul, and also on Mugodzhary ridge in Urkach forest. In July 1988 observed in middle reaches of Ilek near Zhuldus station; 20 June 1996 in valley of Ural between Atyrau and Inder. On migration occurs in the specified ranges.

Hieraaetus pennatus milvoides (Jerdon, 1839) Description. The larger race of species. Male wing length 380-395 (388), female 405-435 (420) mm. Distribution. Breeds in Altai, recorded in Bukhtarma valley and on Markakol lake; on migration observed in eastern and south-eastern areas of Kazakhstan. In summers of 1980-1990 it was more than once observed in Western and Southern Altai, Zaysan depression and Saur ridge. Probably birds of this race were observed 28 August 1981 and in May 1987 in Kurgaldzhino Reserve.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.