No, golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are not found in India. The golden eagle is a species of large bird of prey that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America, with a few isolated populations in Africa. In Asia, golden eagles are found in the mountains of central Kazakhstan, eastern Iran, the easternmost Caucasus, Manchuria, central China, and the Himalayas from northern Pakistan to Bhutan, but they are not present in India.

Eagles Found in India

While golden eagles are not present in India, the country is home to a diverse range of eagle species. Some of the eagles found in India include:

1. Andaman Serpent Eagle
2. Black Eagle
3. Bonelli’s Eagle
4. Booted Eagle
5. Changeable Hawk Eagle
6. Crested Serpent Eagle
7. Greater Spotted Eagle
8. Grey Headed Fish Eagle
9. Indian Spotted Eagle
10. Lesser Fish Eagle
11. Mountain Serpent Eagle
12. Short Toed Snake Eagle
13. Steppe Eagle
14. Tawny Eagle
15. Eastern Imperial Eagle
16. Rufous Bellied Eagle
17. Mountain Hawk Eagle
18. Pallas’s Fish Eagle
19. White Tailed Eagle
20. Black Eagle
21. Legge’s Hawk Eagle
22. White Bellied Sea Eagle

These eagles inhabit various regions of India, including the Andaman Islands, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Nicobar Islands, Central India, North India, North East India, South West India, East India, West India, and the Himalayan region.

Habitat and Characteristics of Golden Eagles

Image source: pexels

Golden eagles are the most widely distributed species of eagle, found in Europe, Asia, and North America. They are known for their broad and heavy beak, which is extremely powerful to tear the flesh of their prey. In Asia, golden eagles are found in mountains, often living at very high elevations and nesting in rocky scree and hunting in adjacent meadows. They are often the top birds of prey in open habitats, taking almost any medium-sized vertebrate they can catch.

Habitat and Characteristics of Eagles in India

In contrast, eagles in India inhabit various biomes, including the Arctic fringe of North America, high mountains above the tree line or on bluffs and cliffs along river valleys below the tree line, boreal forest peatlands and similar mixed woodland areas, plains and prairies, and high Himalayan ranges. Eagles’ nests, called eyries, are made on high cliffs.

Conclusion

In summary, while golden eagles are not found in India, the country is home to a diverse range of eagle species, including the Andaman Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, and many others. These eagles inhabit various regions and biomes within India, showcasing the country’s rich avian diversity.

References

1. Wikipedia – Eagle
2. Wikipedia – Golden Eagle
3. Birds of India
4. YouTube – Eagles in India