Booted Eagle - Hieraaetus pennatus
Pictures - John Foss
The Booted Eagle is a medium sized bird of prey which is quite small compared to some other eagles. It breeds in Southern Europe, West and Central Asia and North Africa, and winters in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia (a few remain in winter in southern Portugal and S. W. Spain). They feed on lizards, rabbits and many ground feeding bird species such as Partridge or Quail which are caught following a spectacular, high speed stoop. They nest in high trees and are therefore threatened by loss of habitat in south-eastern Europe where forests are being destroyed. Wonderful to observe in flight. The specimens on this page were photographed hunting over the Vilamoura reed beds in Portugal.
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