Imperial Eagle

The Imperial Eagle is a large, dark eagle with long broad wings and a fairly long, straight tail. On perched adults, the pale head and white shoulder patches often stand out most clearly.

It is a calm hunter that usually spends a long time watching from a vantage point or circling overhead. During the breeding season it becomes very vocal, with a deep, harsh call that can carry a long way.

It favors open country with trees nearby, especially steppe, forest-steppe, and woodland edges. It feeds mainly on ground squirrels, voles, hamsters, young hares, and marmots, but also takes other prey and will eat carrion in spring; many populations leave for the south in winter.