Booted eagles, including the golden eagle, have good hearing that is approximately equivalent to human hearing. Their ears are located behind and underneath the eyes on either side of the head, and are asymmetric on each side in some species like harriers to help them locate prey.
The Hearing Ability of Booted Eagles
- Booted eagles, such as the golden eagle, have excellent hearing that is comparable to human hearing.
- Their ears are situated behind and below the eyes on both sides of the head.
- In some species, like harriers, the ears are asymmetric on each side, which helps them locate their prey more effectively.
- The golden eagle, the largest species in the Aquila genus of eagles, is known as a “booted” or “true” eagle.
Physical Characteristics of Booted Eagles
Image source: Booted eagle By Dr. Raju Kasambe
- Adult golden eagles are predominantly dark brown in color, with a sandy nape that appears golden in sunlight.
- Immature golden eagles have distinctive white patches on their primary wing feathers and tail, which gradually diminish as they mature.
- Golden eagles are found across the northern hemisphere, including in Scotland and Ireland.
- They are the second-largest bird of prey in the UK, after the reintroduced white-tailed eagle.
- Golden eagles are listed as a Schedule 1 species in the UK due to historic persecution and the accumulation of pesticides in their bodies in the 1950s and 1960s, which caused infertility and eggshell thinning.
Size Differences Between Male and Female Booted Eagles
- Females in the Aquila genus of eagles, including the golden eagle, are typically 20-30% larger than their male counterparts.
- The average male golden eagle in the UK weighs 3.7kg and has a wingspan of 2.0m.
- The average female golden eagle in the UK weighs 5.2kg and has a wingspan of 2.2m.
Evolutionary Relationships of Booted Eagles
- The golden eagle is part of a clade (a group of organisms that share a common ancestor) with Verreaux’s eagle in Africa, as well as the gurneyi and wedge-tailed eagles in Australasia.
- These species share similar morphological characteristics, indicating their close evolutionary relationship.
In conclusion, booted eagles, including the golden eagle, have excellent hearing that is comparable to human hearing. Their unique ear placement and asymmetry in some species help them locate their prey more effectively. Understanding the physical characteristics and evolutionary relationships of these impressive birds of prey can provide valuable insights into their adaptations and survival strategies.
References:
– Discover Wildlife – Facts About Golden Eagles
– Kenya Bird of Prey Trust – Memories of When Eagles Were on Every Hill
– Wikipedia – Golden Eagle
– Wikipedia – Wedge-tailed Eagle
– The Falconry Centre – Diurnal Raptors Overview
