Booted Eagle

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Hieraaetus pennatus

Malay Name: Helang Junam Kecil

Chinese Name: 靴隼雕

Range: Found from southwest Europe to northwest Africa, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent, Siberia and northwest China with northern populations wintering to southern Africa, Indian subcontinent and mainland Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 50-57 cm

Identification: This is a small crestless raptor with long square-cut tail and diagnostic pale shoulder spots (headlights) on the upperwing which occurs in two morph phases. Dark morph bird has uniform dark brown head and body, blackish flight feathers and pale brown underwing coverts. Pale morph bird has mostly whitish underparts with fine brownish streaks, blackish flight feathers and whitish underwing converts.

Similar looking species: Black Kite

Habitat: Reclaimed land, open country and wooded areas.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually solitary, circling and soaring on thermals.

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Records currently under review are also not displayed. For a full list, click here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

References:

BirdLife International. (2021). Hieraaetus pennatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696092A206456835.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.