Booted Eagle

The Booted Eagle is one of the smallest members of the eagle group, roughly the size of a large buzzard, and occurs across southern Europe, Asia, and Africa in two clearly distinct plumage morphs.

Booted Eagle feathers occur in two well-defined color morphs that persist throughout an individual's life rather than changing with age: the pale morph shows creamy-buff body and underwing covert feathers contrasting with dark flight feathers, often with a pale patch (sometimes called "landing lights") visible at the base of the primaries from below; the dark morph is a fairly uniform rich brown throughout the body and wings. Both morphs share feathered legs extending down to the toes, a trait typical of Aquila-related eagles, and a relatively small overall size compared to other eagles, closer to a buzzard in bulk.

The pale and dark morphs are genetically fixed color forms rather than age- or sex-related variation, and juveniles of each morph closely resemble the adult of the same morph. Sexes look alike within each morph. Adults undergo a complete molt, often finished on the wintering grounds for migratory populations.

Booted Eagles favor woodland edges and mixed open country with scattered trees for nesting, found across southern Europe, parts of Asia, and Africa. Northern breeding populations are migratory, wintering mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, while some southern populations are resident.

This species hunts small birds and reptiles with fast, agile flight, often soaring on relatively flat wings compared to the dihedral posture of many larger eagles. The call is a thin, high-pitched note given mainly near the nest. Nests are built in trees, sometimes reusing old nests of other raptors.