The steppe eagle is a bird of prey that belongs to the family Accipitridae. It is closely related to the non-migratory tawny eagle and was previously treated as conspecific. However, the species were split based on pronounced differences in morphology and anatomy. The steppe eagle is 62-81 cm in length and has a wingspan of 1.65-2.15 m. Females are slightly larger than males, weighing 2.3-4.9 kg, while males weigh 2-3.5 kg. This species is larger and darker than the tawny eagle, and it has a pale throat which is lacking in that species.
The steppe eagle breeds from Romania east through the south Russian and Central Asian steppes to Mongolia. The European and Central Asian birds winter in Africa, and the eastern birds in India. It lays 1-3 eggs in a stick nest in a tree. Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah. The steppe eagle’s diet is largely fresh carrion of all kinds, but it will kill rodents and other small mammals up to the size of a hare, and birds up to the size of partridges.
The steppe eagle is found in south-eastern Pakistan, especially in Karachi. Large numbers of these eagles are seen at certain places such as Khare in Nepal during migration. As many as 15.3 birds per hour during October and November have been noted.
The steppe eagle is adversely affected by veterinary use of diclofenac and may fall prey to it. The research found the same signs of kidney failure as seen in the Gyps vulture killed due to diclofenac. They found extensive visceral gout, lesions and uric acid deposits in the liver, kidney and spleen, as well as deposits of diclofenac residue in tissues. Steppe eagles are opportunistic scavengers, which may expose them to the risk of diclofenac poisoning.
Overall, the steppe eagle is an absolutely enormous and endangered bird that winters in the Kutch. It is important to protect this species to preserve its habitat and prevent further decline in its population.
Posted by siddharthx on 2018-02-09 07:40:18