Being Human
Related Articles
Eagles are birds of prey. They are big and powerful birds and have been given the tag “apex predators” in many settings. There are many species of eagles, most of which are from Africa and Eurasia. Only fourteen species come from different parts of the world.
Like any other living thing, eagles move, breathe, eat, grow, excrete and reproduce. Their reproduction process is unique. They take care of their young, protect and feed them until they are old enough to survive independently.
Now let’s fix this question.
What are Baby Eagle called?
A baby eagle is called an eaglet. You would hardly see one around because they stay with their parents until they are old enough to leave the nest.
Baby eagles tend to remain with their parents for approximately 8-14 weeks, until fledging happens.
Keep reading for more details on this topic.
What You Need To Know About The Eagle
Have you ever seen an eagle? What was the first thing you noticed about it? One of the first things most people notice about the eagle is its size. Eagles are large and powerful. Their heavy beaks and heads complement their bodies perfectly.
The only raptors that are bigger than eagles are vultures (some species, not all). The south Nicobar Serpent eagle is the smallest species of eagle, and it is about 450g big.
Eagles have hooked beaks. These beaks are massive, and they use them for tearing the flesh of their prey. They also have well-developed talons and powerful legs. The average eagle’s beak weighs more than any other bird of prey’s.
One of the top things people mention when describing an eagle is its eyes. Just like most parts of the eagle’s body, its eyes are powerful. For example, the martial eagle has about eight times more functional eyes than the average human eye.
They can spot their prey from a far distance. It’s like a superpower, and it comes from the fact that the eagles’ pupils are large. The largeness allows light rays to pass through without scattering.
Also, eagles are known to build their eyries (Nest). They make it on trees, usually tall trees and soaring cliffs. The number of eggs they lay in their nests is dependent on the species.
Some species lay two eggs, and when they hatch, the larger eaglet kills, the smaller one. On many occasions, the killed is usually the male because the female eagles are often more enormous. All species of eagles have bigger females.
Eagles are undoubtedly on top of the food chain in the avian kingdom. This high ranking is because of how much power their bodies are packing. Different eagles have different prey. The prey they choose is according to their genus.
For example, the serpent eagle belonging to the genera, Terathopius, Spilornis and Circaetus, mainly prey on snakes inhabiting Asia and Africa’s torrid zones.
The eagles of the genera Ichthyophaga and Haliaeetus are known to prey on fish. However, the species of Ichthyophaga also prey on water birds.
In particular open habitats, eagles of the genus Aquila are usually on top of the food chain preying on small to medium vertebrates they can find and catch. When the Aquila eagles are not present, eagles of other genera can take over the position of top predators.
Many species of eagles that live in forests target arboreal animals which they can tactically capture. How eagles hunt and capture prey differ based on their environment and the mark, they are hunting per time. However, the most common technique is grabbing the prey without landing and flying away to tear it apart on a perch.
The bald eagle has a record for flying with the heaviest load any bird can carry flying. For many eagles, the weight of their prey doesn’t stop their hunt. So, when they capture prey that is too heavy for them to fly with, they may tear it into pieces and take it back to their perch piece by piece, or take the easy road and eat it at the spot they made the kill.
An eagle had once flown with a deer fawn that weighed 6.8kg, and a martial eagle killed a duiker that weighed seven times more than it did.
Finally, the eagle has some of the largest birds of prey. The only birds of prey that may measure up to the eagle’s size or might be larger are some Vultures (old world). Often, there are conversations about what species of eagles are the largest.
It is important to note that their different lifestyles may affect their size. Their measurement is either taken in length, wingspan or body mass. So, their bodies develop in ways that fit their environment and allow them to survive.
How Many Species Of Eagles Are There
There are over sixty species of eagles, and more than thirty of these species are widely endangered species. Most of the species are from Asia and Africa. North America has just two species, the Golden and Bald eagle. They are arguably two of the most famous eagle species in the world.
The Bald Eagle And Golden Eagle
The bald eagle is most likely the easiest eagle for people to identify. They are mainly in North America and can quickly adapt to different environments. You would find a bald eagle in forests, mountains, swamps and other various areas.
You can tell a bald eagle from other species by their Coloring. The feathers on their head are white, in contrast to the rest of their body which is brown. The average female bald eagle weighs about 7kg.
On the other hand, the golden eagle is almost everywhere, in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. It is one of the most adaptable eagle species. As its diet varies, so can the environment it thrives in vary. You would see them on mountains and cliffs.
The colour of a golden eagle is usually a combination of a brown body with a gold head. The female golden eagle can weigh more than 6kg.
When Are Eagles Old Enough To Start Breeding
When an eagle is 4-5 years old, they are mature enough to engage in sexual activities, which automatically means it can start breeding. When the Bald eagle head and tail is entirely white, that’s a sign that they are sexually mature.
The Mating And Courting Process Of An Eagle
The best way to describe the courting process amongst eagles is “Dramatic.” The entire process is a show. There is cartwheeling, swooping flights and a whole bunch of acrobatic displays. All this is to show that the potential mate has agility and strength.
Eagles are highly monogamous. So, once two eagles mate, they would most likely stay with each other for many years until one dies or does not return to their nest. Research has shown that many times the eagle with a dead partner moves on quickly.
Eagles don’t mate in the air. Only courtship happens in the air. The male usually mounts the female eagle on a branch or in their nest. The eagles can copulate several times in a day.
Sperm is transferred from the male eagle to the female eagle during copulation when their cloacae touch. This process is called Cloacal kiss.
The Baby Eagle
The baby eagle looks different from the fully grown eagle. They have white or Grey feathers and weigh about three ounces. These eagles don’t have robust looks and features until they are between four and six years old.
Their parents take care of their feeding until they can leave the nest. Parents tear large pieces of meat and bring them to their babies. They are only responsible for providing the food, not sharing it. So, it is up to the eaglet to take what they can. It is usually a situation of the more prominent you’re, the more likely you’re to get more food. The larger baby eagle always wins.
When the eggs hatch, the baby eagle makes chirping sounds as it comes into the world. But as it starts to grow, its sounds begin to resemble its parents more. The sound isn’t the only thing they get from their parents. They also learn to fly from them. As they grow older, they begin to imitate their parents’ flight in their nests.
What Are The Chances Of A Baby Eagle Surviving?
For the first year, their chances of survival are 50/50, but as they progress in age, it is a different story. You must be aware that their survival rate is dependent mainly on the environment they live in.
Conclusion
This post answers the question, “What are baby eagles called?” The eaglet comes into the world protected until it is ready to leave the nest. It is shielded and fed until it can fly and fend for itself. Then it begins the process of surviving, feeding and procreating all over again.
Generally, the eagle is one of the most powerful and dreaded birds in the wild. They feed on a variety of animals, with mammals and birds being the primary target. You can read through this article for more about the eagle.
