Scientifically, an eagle is a bird of prey belonging to the hawk family. It has a massive physique, has long and wide wings, the beak is massive, the claws on the legs are bent inward, and “pants” are formed on the hips with feathers.

Eagle Flight Performance

From the ground it may seem that a large bird barely soars above the ground, spreading its wings wide. However, the "flight" performance of the eagle is very impressive. During the "soaring" the eagle can fly at a speed of 190 to 240 kilometers per hour (even when driving on the highway, you can’t catch it!). The illusion of slow movement develops due to the huge flight altitude - over 700 meters. And he dives with exorbitant 320 kilometers per hour, which is generally amazing.

The device of the wings of an eagle with widespread “fingers” at the tips provides stronger air flows from below than from above the wing, and determines the high lifting force of the bird. So the predator got the ability to soar without moving its wings. And to work with them, only taking off and accelerating during the pursuit of prey.

In addition, his flight is very stable. The eagle is able to slightly fold its wings, leaving its tips wide apart, and withstand a smooth flight during a hurricane.

Eagle sight

The eagle has very sharp eyesight with a wide coverage. Each eye of an eagle is capable of focusing immediately on 2 objects (a person has one), visual acuity allows you to see a hare at a distance of more than three kilometers, and it can cover 270 degrees with a peripheral look. From a height of flight, the eagle is able to see prey on a surface of 11.5 kilometers.

All this is intended to make the bird an excellent hunter, able to see prey at a great distance and able to accurately calculate the distance for attacking it.

Interesting fact: Eagle eyes close two centuries: transparent and dense. The first, completely transparent, are adapted to counteract prey or strong winds. And the latter let you sleep.

Hunting

Eagles are effective in hunting. They do not kill excess animals, they catch only for their own food and for chicks. Mostly hunt small game.

Eagles not only independently obtain food, but are also ready to engage in outright robbery. For example, they can take prey from a smaller bird of prey on the fly.

Eagles prey on a flying bird. They overtake the victim by surprise, because they hunt from such a height that the bird does not see them. And then they dive at such a speed that their production does not have time to notice. Slow-motion footage of an eagle’s battle with a prey on the fly is interesting. An eagle can catch birds directly on the fly, and carry the trophy further.

Nest

Eagle nests are built at the maximum height of the area. This is what they do to ensure safety for the chicks, to have an excellent viewing platform and ambush space at the same time, and to take off with less effort.

The nest has been equipped for many years, building up and expanding every year. Since it is very high, as soon as the chicks appear in it, eagles decorate it with a "canopy" of branches, most often pine. Green branches give enough shade to protect from the scorching sun.

Eagle families

Eagles are very faithful birds, they create a couple for life. Some ornithologists have discovered a pair of eagles that have lived together for more than thirty-five years.

These birds have a wonderful organization of life. When the chicks are still very small, their parents share family functions. The male becomes the earner, and the mother is the educator and nurse. She protects the nest and feeds the chicks, sharing prey for them. Chicks usually hatch 1-2 per year. After 3 months, they grow up and already begin to fly on their own hunting.

Sometimes, if the eaglet does not dare to leave the nest, the parent sits opposite the nest with prey and begins to call the timid child.

Chicks

Talking about the chicks that are born in the families of feathered predators, it is worth noting the following:

• The eagle mainly incubates eggs, but the male actively helps her in this, replacing it if necessary;
• Egg incubation lasts 40-45 days, depending on the type of eagle;
• Also, depending on the type of clutch, it can consist of 1-3 eggs;
• If the chick does not appear alone, the first 2 months a competition occurs - the stronger one tries to get rid of his brother or sister. If in 2 months this cannot be done, peace reigns in the nest, the chicks no longer conflict;
• At 3 months, parental care for him ceases, the chick is able to hunt independently;
• Maturity comes to a mighty bird only in 4 - 5 years.

Interesting facts about the eagle

Females of all types of eagle are larger than males, and the difference in size is very significant.But the enormous power of the wings and flight altitude are relevant for both sexes - each eagle can overcome a height of 7, even 9 km. And even these birds seek to build nests at the highest point that exists on the terrain where they live. It is not surprising that a strong, proud and inaccessible bird, conquering heights no worse than an airplane, has become a symbol of the ancient gods, has appeared on many emblems, including the Russian one. It is also worth noting the following facts:

• Unique is not only the visual system of the eagle or the device of its wings. Even the skeleton of a bird is adapted for flying at altitude - it weighs half as much as feathers;
• The power of the celestial predator is such that it is able to grasp and raise into the sky a not too large deer;
• Eagle needs good aerodynamics. If a feather falls out of one of its wings, it is also lost from the second - even if the first was torn out intentionally or was lost due to an injury or blow.

Why is the eagle called the "royal" bird?

The history of the magnificent bird is rooted in antiquity and is fixed in the mythology of almost all the peoples of the world. In antiquity, the eagle was considered a solar symbol and brought good luck and victory. Among the Romans, he personified the storm and was the bearer of Jupiter lightning. The Egyptians endowed the eagle with a solar sign associated with morning warm rays. The eagle acquired the same solar sign in China.

The rulers, as a decision to create the image of a strong ruler, bearing divinely undeniable power, took an eagle image, as if approaching celestials.They decorated themselves with clothes decorated with eagle feathers or corresponding symbols. Gradually from primitive mythology, the eagle image was transferred to world religions. The proud bird flying so high was accepted in Hinduism, Christianity and other religions as the embodiment of the divine face.

In our country, the double-headed eagle represents the ideal government: powerful, glorious, fair.