ชื่อสามัญ : Steppe Eagle ชื่อท้องถิ่น : นกอินทรีทุ่งหญ้าสเตปป์, นกอินทรีสีน้ำตาลใหญ่
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หล่งที่พบ : การแพร่กระจาย: ทุ่งหญ้ากึ่งทะเลทรายในรัสเซีย ตั้งแต่ทะเลดำไปจนถึงมองโกเลีย แคว้นทรานส์ไบคาเลีย และจีนด้านตะวันตกและด้านเหนือ แต่พอถึงฤดูหนาวจะบินอพยพย้ายถิ่นลงมาหากินในทวีปแอฟริกาด้านตะวันออก บางส่วนของตะวันออกกลาง ปากีสถาน อินเดียตอนเหนือ ทิเบต จีนตอนใต้ พม่า เกาะไหหลำ แคว้นตังเกี๋ย มลายู และสิงคโปร์ ในประเทศไทย เป็นนกอพยพย้ายถิ่นนอกฤดูผสมพันธุ์หรือนกอพยพผ่านที่หายาก พบได้ทางภาคกลาง ภาคตะวันตก และภาคใต้
Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensisScientific classification Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aquila
Species: Aquila nipalensis
Taxanomy & SubspeciesFormerly thought to be the same species as the Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) with which the Steppe Eagle is closely related. Today they are definitely regarded as seperate species.
Other close relatives are the Eastern Imperial Eagle and the Spanish Imperial Eagle.
SizeIt is about 62–81 cm (24–32 in) in length and has a wingspan of 165–200 cm (65–79 in). Females, weighing 2.3-4.9 kg (5-10.8 lbs), are slightly larger than males, at 2-3.5 kg (4.4-7.7 lbs).
HabitatAs the name already says, the Steppe Eagle is a bird of open habitat like steppes, desert, semi-desert, grasslands and even agricultural areas. In the winter quarters, for example in India or Oman, also found at garbage dumps.
DistributionIn Europe only found in Russia north and north-west of the Caspian Sea. Formerly also nested in Moldova and Romania but it is long extinct in those countries. Also gone from the Ukraine since the 1980s [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. Outside of Europe the species is found in the steppes of central Asia eastwards to Mongolia, eastern Kazakhstan, Tibet and northeastern China [GRIN 2009]. During winter in Africa and southwestern Asia.
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MigrationThe Steppe Eagle is a migratory species. Most European birds and those from western Asia spend the winter in eastern and southern Africa. Some also spend the winter on the Arabian Peninsula. Birds from farther east spend the winter in India and neighbouring countries.
Breeding and ReproductionAge of first breeding not yet known, probably around 4 years [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. Often nests on the ground, slope of a hill and also on bushes and power poles.
1 - 4 eggs are laid. Incubation time is about 45 days [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. The young stay in the nest for about 60 days. [Mebs & Schmidt 2006] assume that cainism (the killing of young eagles by their older siblings) does not occur with this species as often 2 or 3 young fledge.
Food and huntingMostly preys on small mammals but also on birds and reptiles when mammals are scarce. The most important prey species are susliks like the Little Ground Squirrel Spermophilus pygmaeus, in some places also takes Great Gerbil Rhombomys opimus [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. In it's winter range, the species also feeds on insects like locuts and termites and also on queleas (small songbirds ) colonies [GRIN 2009]. Steppe Eagle also take carrion and will even visit landfills. Steppe Eagles mostly hunt from perches, but also from flight.
PopulationThe population in the European part of Russia was estimated at about 20,000 pairs at the beginning of the 1990s, but today the poplation is smaller. Excact data is not available [Mebs & Schmidt 2006]. [Birdlife International 2004] gives 5,000 - 20,000 for the year 1994.