What is the difference between the Asian Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos daphanea), the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), and the Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)?

The Asian Golden Eagle, the Eastern Imperial Eagle, and the Steppe Eagle are all large birds of prey, raptors, and accipiters from the Northern Hemisphere.

The Asian Golden Eagle, the Eastern Imperial Eagle, and the Steppe Eagle all have a dark-grey or black-tipped sharply down-turned beak with a yellow cere (the hard substance at the top of the beak).

The difference between them is mainly due to size, colour, and flight.

 

The Asian Golden Eagle is paler brown with golden feathers at the back of the its neck, whereas the Eastern Imperial Eagle and the Steppe Eagle are darker brown.

The Asian Golden Eagle has light-golden-brown eyes; the Eastern Imperial Eagle has light-brown eyes; and the Steppe Eagle has dark-brown eyes.

The Asian Golden Eagle has longer tail feathers than the Eastern Imperial Eagle and the Steppe Eagle.

The Asian Golden Eagle measures 66-102 centimetres (26-40 inches) in length, with a wingspan of 221 centimetres (87 inches); the Eastern Imperial Eagle measures 72-90 centimetres (28-35 inches) in length, with a wingspan of 180-216 centimetres (71-85 inches); the Steppe Eagle measures about 62-81 centimetres (24-32 inches) tall, with a wingspan of 165-215 centimetres (65-85 inches). Generally, the Asian Golden Eagle and the Eastern Imperial Eagle are similar in size, and the Steppe Eagle is smaller.

The Asian Golden Eagle flies with slightly up-turned V-shaped wings (this is called dihedral flight), whereas the Eastern Imperial Eagle and the Steppe Eagle do not (they have flattened wings during flight).

 

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM