Eastern Imperial Eagle

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

Scientific Name: Aquila heliaca

Malay Name: Helang Tengkuk Kuning Biasa

Chinese Name: 白肩雕

Range: Found from southeast Europe to central Asia, Indian subcontinent, northwest China, Mongolia and central Siberia with the more northern populations wintering to Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, Indian subcontinent, southern China and mainland Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 72-83 cm

Identification: Adult has blackish brown plumage with large head and bill, golden buff supercilium, ear-coverts, nape and hind neck, prominent white markings on upper scapulars and pale undertail-coverts. Juvenile has buffish plumage with distinctive dark streaks on nape, neck, breast and wing coverts (above and below) and dark flight feathers.

Similar looking species: Greater Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle

Habitat: Reclaimed land and open country near the coasts.

Behaviour/Ecology: Takes carrion.

Local Status: Vagrant

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2019)

Featured reports: Nov 2022

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024 (all records)
Peak weeks Jan 01-Jan 07, Jan 08-Jan 14, Nov 05-Nov 11 (2 more)
Early date 03 Nov 1990
Late date 01 Mar 1987
One recent record: at Chek Jawa in Dec 2016-Jan 2017. A rather rare raptor not just in Singapore but elsewhere in southeast Asia too.
Juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle at Pulau Sekudu. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle at Pulau Sekudu off Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Frankie Cheong
Juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle at Pulau Sekudu. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle at Batang Tiga, Malaysia. Photo Credit: Tan Gim Cheong
Juvenile Eastern Imperial Eagle at Pulau Sekudu. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Imperial Eagle)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Aquila heliaca. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22696048A155464885.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.

Lim, K. S. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).

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

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Eastern Imperial Eagle. Retrieved on April 25, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/eastern-imperial-eagle.

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