Wildlifeof Nepal
Steppe Eagle
Birds of Prey
Photo: (c) موسی مزینانیان Mousa Mazinanian, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Aquila nipalensis
Basic stats
Diet
Ground squirrels on the breeding grounds; other small mammals and prey
Habitat
Steppe; nests on a slight rise or flat open ground
Clutch size
1–3 eggs
Size
60–89cm
Weight
Males mean 2.48kg; females mean 3.56kg
The steppe eagle is a large bird of prey, 60–89 cm long, mainly dark brown with a longish but very thick neck and a relatively small head with a strong bill and long gape line. It looks long-winged, with a longish, rather rounded tail and well-feathered, almost dishevelled-looking legs. In one sample males weighed a mean of 2.48 kg and females 3.56 kg (Wikipedia, general species account).
On the breeding ground it is a specialised predator of ground squirrels, taking other small mammals more often when squirrels are scarce. In treeless steppe it tends to nest on a slight rise in a rather flat nest, and one to three eggs are laid (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Steppe Eagle eat?
- Ground squirrels on the breeding grounds; other small mammals and prey
- What habitat does the Steppe Eagle live in?
- Steppe; nests on a slight rise or flat open ground
- How many eggs does the Steppe Eagle lay?
- 1–3 eggs
- How big is the Steppe Eagle?
- 60–89cm
- How much does the Steppe Eagle weigh?
- Males mean 2.48kg; females mean 3.56kg