Booted eagles, also known as Hieraaetus pennatus, typically lay their eggs from March to June, with the majority of eggs being laid in mid to late April. This article will delve into the specifics of when booted eagles lay their eggs, their nesting habits, and other key details about their breeding season.

Booted Eagles’ Breeding Season

The breeding season for booted eagles usually lasts from late April to August in much of their range. However, in Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent, they may breed from November to March, sometimes further into June to July, indicating an inconsistent nesting schedule in that region.

Nesting Habits of Booted Eagles

Image source: Booted eagle By Dr. Raju Kasambe

Booted eagles build their nests on a large branch of a tree or cliff ledge, typically 6-35 meters up from the ground. They use sticks to construct the nest and line it with leaves or conifer needles.

Clutch Size

Normally, booted eagles lay two eggs, although sometimes only one egg and rarely three eggs can be laid.

Incubation and Hatching

The eggs are incubated mostly by the female for 37-40 days before hatching. If more than one egg hatches, both chicks often survive.

Fledging and Independence

Fledging takes 50-55 days, and the chick becomes independent around 2 weeks after that.

Courtship Displays

Booted eagles use elaborate aerial displays to establish a pair bond. These displays include very fast and marvelous stoops, dives followed by upward swoops, and active calling. The male will sometimes dive at the female repeatedly, and she may flip over on her back and present her claws upwards to him.

Breeding Habitat

Booted eagles select breeding areas with a mixture of woodlands and open lands, often near marshland and stone pine trees. Trees used for nesting are often larger (wide and tall) and usually are in small groups or large isolated trees, with cliff edges also being used for nesting.

Population and Distribution

In Europe, booted eagles are considered a “rare” bird, breeding in both Western Europe (France, Portugal, and Spain) and Eastern Europe (Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine). In Italy, the booted eagle is a regular migrant, but irregular when it comes to wintering.

During wintering, the birds are seen in wetlands and marshes, mainly overwintering in southern Asia, southern Europe, and Africa. They leave the breeding grounds in August/September and return in March/April, typically found in pairs or singly and not usually found in groups more than five, even when migrating.

Conclusion

In summary, booted eagles lay their eggs from March to June, with the majority of eggs being laid in mid to late April. They build their nests on large tree branches or cliff ledges, typically 6-35 meters up, and normally lay two eggs. The eggs are incubated for 37-40 days, and the chicks fledge after 50-55 days, becoming independent around 2 weeks later. Booted eagles use elaborate aerial displays to establish pair bonds and select breeding areas with a mix of woodlands and open lands, often near marshland and stone pine trees. They are considered a “rare” bird in Europe, with breeding populations in both Western and Eastern Europe, and are regular migrants in Italy.

References:
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_spotted_eagle
– https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hieraaetus_pennatus/
– https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Education/WildlifeNotesIndex/Pages/EaglesOsprey.aspx