Critter Science
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Subscribe
greater spotted eagle

The Greater Spotted Eagle

  • 1 July, 2022
  • Critterman
  • No Comments
  • 809 Views
  • 3 Likes
Bird Facts, Daily Critter Facts, Predatory Bird Facts

The greater spotted eagle, aka spotted eagle, hails from Europe, Asia, and into Africa. They prefer riparian zones near rivers, bogs, ponds, lakes, a few seacoasts, and other water ways with woodland or forest surroundings. Due to habitat destruction at the hands of residential and commercial development, mining, agriculture, logging, and dams; the dangers of utility lines; hunting and trapping; human intrusion via recreational activities; and invasive species, & with them the potential for disease and predation, these birds of prey are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Their numbers are also decreasing.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Clanga clanga
Weight: Up to 7.17 lbs.
Length: Up to 29 inches
Wingspan: Up to 6.1 feet
Lifespan: Up to 25 years

Now on to the Facts!

1.) The greater spotted eagle global’s population numbers only an estimated 10,000 +/-.

2.) These predators prey on rats, mice, voles, frogs, reptiles, water birds, insects, and carrion (dead animals).

3.) These eagles are members of the Aquilinae (booted) eagle subfamily. This is due to their legs being covered with feathers.

4.) Like other eagles, sexual dimorphism (1 gender is noticeably different than the other) is strong with these critters, in that the females are markedly larger than the males.

5.) The call most often heard is during intra or inner species fights and makes a soft, one-syllable, yet penetrating & high-pitched, urgent whistle which sounds like a kyack, kluh, tyuck or dyip.

But wait, there’s more on the greater spotted eagle!

6.) These birds migrate to their wintering homes from October – November and back to their breeding homes from February – April.

7.) These eagles build their large nests out of various sticks. They typically measure about 43 inches across and 39 inches deep. Nests are lined with green leaves, grass, and pine needles.

Did you know…?
Being slower flying birds, these eagles can reach speeds of up to 28.5 mph.

8.) Females lay up to 3 eggs that hatch in up to 44 days. But rarely more than 1 eaglet reaches adulthood.

9.) The female typically incubates and broods her young, while the male supplies the food.

10.) As in other birds of prey, typically the oldest sibling is much larger than its younger siblings and usually attacks and kills the younger eaglets.

But wait, there’s still more on the greater spotted eagle!

11.) The hunting success rate is around 34%, on average.

12.) Like owls, smaller prey is swallowed whole and the uneaten matter regurgitated as a pellet. Larger prey items are torn apart and chunks of flesh is eaten whole.

13.) These birds patrol an area of about 5.8 to 11.6 square miles. But territories overlap.

14.) Hybridization has been known to occur extensively between the lesser and the greater spotted eagles.

Now a Short Greater Spotted Eagle Video!

Be sure to share & comment below! Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel. Videos added frequently!

Want to suggest a critter for me to write about? Let me know here.

Learn more about all kinds of cool critters, right here!
AfricaAsiabirdbird of preyeagleeggsEuropeflygreatergreater spotted eaglepredatorspotted
Critterman

With over 50 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

The Spot Prawn
The Spectral Tarsier
Related Posts
  • Nepal house martin
    The Nepal House Martin 4 July, 2025
  • booted eagle
    The Booted Eagle 3 July, 2025
  • Wyoming toad
    The Wyoming Toad 2 July, 2025
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • Guest Articles
  • BYET
  • Teachers
  • Study Guides
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025, Critter Science. All Rights Reserved.