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Lesser spotted eagle

January 20, 2023

The lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina) is a large Eastern European bird of prey. Like all typical eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. The typical eagles are often united with the buteos, sea eagles, and other more heavy-set Accipitridae, but more recently it appears as if they are less distinct from the more slender accipitrine hawks than believed.

Lesser spotted eagle
Adult
Note light patches on wings
and white V on rump
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Clanga
Species:
C. pomarina
Binomial name
Clanga pomarina
Brehm, 1831
Range of C. pomarina
  Breeding
  Non-breeding
  Passage
Synonyms

Aquila pomarina

Description

 
A drawing of a lesser spotted eagle

This is a medium-sized eagle, about 60 cm (24 in) in length and with a wingspan of 150 cm (59 in). Its head and wing coverts are pale brown and contrast with the generally dark plumage. The head and bill are small for an eagle. Usually, a white patch occurs on the upper wings, and even adults retain a clearly marked white "V" on the rump; the wing markings are absent and the white "V" is not well-defined in the greater spotted eagle.

The juvenile has less contrast in the wings, but the remiges bear prominent white spots. It differs from greater spotted eagle juveniles by a lack of wing covert spotting and the presence of a cream-colored neck patch.

The call is a dog-like yip.

Taxonomy and evolution

The birds formerly considered to be the resident Indian subspecies are now considered a separate species, the Indian spotted eagle (Clanga hastata), quite distinct and readily separable by morphological, behavioral, ecological, and DNA sequence data. The European taxon is actually closer to the greater spotted eagle; their common ancestor seems to have diverged around the middle Pliocene, perhaps some 3.6 million years ago,[2] from the ancestors of the Indian birds. The "proto-spotted eagle" probably lived in the general region of Afghanistan, being split into a northern and a southern lineage when both glaciers and deserts advanced in Central Asia as the last ice age began. The northern lineage subsequently separated into the eastern (greater) and western (lesser) species of today, probably around the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary not quite 2 million years ago.[3][4][5]

 
A two-egg clutch in nest

The present species hybridizes occasionally with the greater spotted eagle. Hybrid birds are almost impossible to identify if not seen up close.[6]

Distribution and habitat

 
Egg in the collection of Museum Wiesbaden

The lesser spotted eagle breeds in Central and Eastern Europe and southeastward to Turkey and Armenia;[7] and winters in Africa. This is a very wary species of open or lightly wooded country, in which it hunts small mammals (especially voles, ground squirrels, rats, and mice) and similar terrestrial prey, such as small birds, amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally insects (including termites).[citation needed][8][9] It is known to occasionally feed on carrion.[10]

Behaviour and ecology

The lesser spotted eagle uses regularly spaced territories consistently between years in the north-western part of its distribution. The distances between territories vary across the region, although this was not found to be related to breeding success. Synchronous variation in breeding success across the region indicates that the eagles are instead influenced by large-scale factors such as fluctuations in climate or prey availability.[11] The lesser spotted eagle lays one to three white, buff-spotted eggs in a tree nest. As usual for eagles, only in breeding seasons with very abundant prey does more than one young fledge, but the female starts incubating when the first egg has been laid, thus the first young to hatch usually outgrows its clutch mate(s) and will kill and even eat them sooner or later.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2021). "Clanga pomarina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22696022A203665834. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696022A203665834.en. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  2. ^ The estimate in Väli 2006 is certainly incorrect; it uses a molecular clock that is appropriate for small passerines with half the generation times of eagles.
  3. ^ Parry, S.J.; Clark, W.S.; Prakash, V. (2002). "On the taxonomic status of the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata". Ibis. 144 (4): 665–675. doi:10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00109.x.
  4. ^ Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Anderton, John C. (2005). Birds of South Asia - The Ripley Guide. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-87334-67-2.
  5. ^ Väli, Ülo (2006). "Mitochondrial DNA sequences support species status for the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 126 (3): 238–242.
  6. ^ Väli, Ülo; Lõhmus, Asko (2004). "Nestling characteristics and identification of the lesser spotted eagle Aquila pomarina, greater spotted eagle A. clanga, and their hybrids". Journal of Ornithology. 145 (3): 256–263. doi:10.1007/s10336-004-0028-7. S2CID 20893726.
  7. ^ "Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina in Armenia". Armenian Bird Census, TSE NGO].
  8. ^ https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Aquila_pomarina/
  9. ^ https://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/eagles/lesser-spotted-eagle
  10. ^ https://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/eagles/lesser-spotted-eagle
  11. ^ Treinys, R.; Bergmanis, U.; Väli, Ü. (2017). "Strong territoriality and weak density-dependent reproduction in Lesser Spotted Eagles Clanga pomarina". Ibis. 159 (2): 343–351. doi:10.1111/ibi.12454.

Further reading

  • Svensson, Lars (1–8 November 1986). Underwing pattern of Steppe, Spotted and Lesser Spotted Eagles. International Bird Identification: Proceedings of the 4th International Identification Meeting. Eilat: International Birdwatching Centre Eilat. pp. 12–14.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clanga pomarina.
 
Wikispecies has information related to Clanga pomarina.
  • Lesser spotted eagle species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
  • BirdLife species factsheet for Clanga pomarina
  • "Clanga pomarina". Avibase.  
  • "Lesser spotted eagle media". Internet Bird Collection.
  • Lesser spotted eagle photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
  • Audio recordings of Lesser Spotted Eagle on Xeno-canto.

January 20, 2023
lesser, spotted, eagle, lesser, spotted, eagle, clanga, pomarina, large, eastern, european, bird, prey, like, typical, eagles, belongs, family, accipitridae, typical, eagles, often, united, with, buteos, eagles, other, more, heavy, accipitridae, more, recently. The lesser spotted eagle Clanga pomarina is a large Eastern European bird of prey Like all typical eagles it belongs to the family Accipitridae The typical eagles are often united with the buteos sea eagles and other more heavy set Accipitridae but more recently it appears as if they are less distinct from the more slender accipitrine hawks than believed Lesser spotted eagleAdultNote light patches on wings and white V on rumpConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder AccipitriformesFamily AccipitridaeGenus ClangaSpecies C pomarinaBinomial nameClanga pomarinaBrehm 1831Range of C pomarina Breeding Non breeding PassageSynonymsAquila pomarina Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy and evolution 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour and ecology 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDescription Edit A drawing of a lesser spotted eagle This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message This is a medium sized eagle about 60 cm 24 in in length and with a wingspan of 150 cm 59 in Its head and wing coverts are pale brown and contrast with the generally dark plumage The head and bill are small for an eagle Usually a white patch occurs on the upper wings and even adults retain a clearly marked white V on the rump the wing markings are absent and the white V is not well defined in the greater spotted eagle The juvenile has less contrast in the wings but the remiges bear prominent white spots It differs from greater spotted eagle juveniles by a lack of wing covert spotting and the presence of a cream colored neck patch The call is a dog like yip Taxonomy and evolution EditThe birds formerly considered to be the resident Indian subspecies are now considered a separate species the Indian spotted eagle Clanga hastata quite distinct and readily separable by morphological behavioral ecological and DNA sequence data The European taxon is actually closer to the greater spotted eagle their common ancestor seems to have diverged around the middle Pliocene perhaps some 3 6 million years ago 2 from the ancestors of the Indian birds The proto spotted eagle probably lived in the general region of Afghanistan being split into a northern and a southern lineage when both glaciers and deserts advanced in Central Asia as the last ice age began The northern lineage subsequently separated into the eastern greater and western lesser species of today probably around the Pliocene Pleistocene boundary not quite 2 million years ago 3 4 5 A two egg clutch in nest The present species hybridizes occasionally with the greater spotted eagle Hybrid birds are almost impossible to identify if not seen up close 6 Distribution and habitat Edit Egg in the collection of Museum Wiesbaden The lesser spotted eagle breeds in Central and Eastern Europe and southeastward to Turkey and Armenia 7 and winters in Africa This is a very wary species of open or lightly wooded country in which it hunts small mammals especially voles ground squirrels rats and mice and similar terrestrial prey such as small birds amphibians reptiles and occasionally insects including termites citation needed 8 9 It is known to occasionally feed on carrion 10 Behaviour and ecology EditThe lesser spotted eagle uses regularly spaced territories consistently between years in the north western part of its distribution The distances between territories vary across the region although this was not found to be related to breeding success Synchronous variation in breeding success across the region indicates that the eagles are instead influenced by large scale factors such as fluctuations in climate or prey availability 11 The lesser spotted eagle lays one to three white buff spotted eggs in a tree nest As usual for eagles only in breeding seasons with very abundant prey does more than one young fledge but the female starts incubating when the first egg has been laid thus the first young to hatch usually outgrows its clutch mate s and will kill and even eat them sooner or later citation needed References Edit BirdLife International 2021 Clanga pomarina IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T22696022A203665834 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 3 RLTS T22696022A203665834 en Retrieved 14 February 2022 The estimate in Vali 2006 is certainly incorrect it uses a molecular clock that is appropriate for small passerines with half the generation times of eagles Parry S J Clark W S Prakash V 2002 On the taxonomic status of the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata Ibis 144 4 665 675 doi 10 1046 j 1474 919X 2002 00109 x Rasmussen Pamela C Anderton John C 2005 Birds of South Asia The Ripley Guide Barcelona Lynx Edicions ISBN 978 84 87334 67 2 Vali Ulo 2006 Mitochondrial DNA sequences support species status for the Indian Spotted Eagle Aquila hastata Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 126 3 238 242 Vali Ulo Lohmus Asko 2004 Nestling characteristics and identification of the lesser spotted eagle Aquila pomarina greater spotted eagle A clanga and their hybrids Journal of Ornithology 145 3 256 263 doi 10 1007 s10336 004 0028 7 S2CID 20893726 Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina in Armenia Armenian Bird Census TSE NGO https animaldiversity org accounts Aquila pomarina https www peregrinefund org explore raptors species eagles lesser spotted eagle https www peregrinefund org explore raptors species eagles lesser spotted eagle Treinys R Bergmanis U Vali U 2017 Strong territoriality and weak density dependent reproduction in Lesser Spotted Eagles Clanga pomarina Ibis 159 2 343 351 doi 10 1111 ibi 12454 Further reading EditSvensson Lars 1 8 November 1986 Underwing pattern of Steppe Spotted and Lesser Spotted Eagles International Bird Identification Proceedings of the 4th International Identification Meeting Eilat International Birdwatching Centre Eilat pp 12 14 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Clanga pomarina Wikispecies has information related to Clanga pomarina Lesser spotted eagle species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds BirdLife species factsheet for Clanga pomarina Clanga pomarina Avibase Lesser spotted eagle media Internet Bird Collection Lesser spotted eagle photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Audio recordings of Lesser Spotted Eagle on Xeno canto Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lesser spotted eagle amp oldid 1133618779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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