Scientific Name: Clanga clanga
Malay Name: Helang-Bintik Besar
Chinese Name: 乌雕
Range: Found from eastern Europe to the Indian subcontinent, northern China and Siberia with the northern populations wintering to southern Europe, northeast Africa, Middle East, northern Indian subcontinent, southern China and mainland Southeast Asia
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 65-72 cm
Identification: Adult can be separated from Eastern Imperial Eagle and Steppe Eagle by darker brown plumage, relatively shorter wings, smallish bill, shortish tail and rather uniformly dark underwing pattern with distinctive whitish patch at base of outer primaries. Juvenile resembles adult but has blackish plumage with distinctive whitish spots on upperwing-coverts and buffish streaks on belly and thighs. This species also has a rare fulvescens morph with mostly buffish to rufous body and wing coverts and contrasting black flight feathers and tail.
Similar looking species: Steppe Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle
Habitat: Reclaimed land and open country.
Behaviour/Ecology: Takes carrion.
Local Status: Rare migrant
Conservation Status: Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2021)
Location: Sightings (majority juveniles) in the last 5 years were at Changi, Lorong Halus, Punggol Barat, Kent Ridge Park, Tuas South and Henderson Waves. A fulvescens morph individual was photographed at Changi in Nov 2012.
- RAP201: How to Identify Uncommon Raptors (ID Articles)
- RAP301: What is that raptor? (ID Articles)
- Singapore Birds Project Raptor Watch at Henderson Waves (Blog)
- A Student’s Big Year (Blog)
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Greater Spotted Eagle)
References:
BirdLife International. (2021). Clanga clanga. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696027A203868747.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.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Greater Spotted Eagle. Retrieved on September 26, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/greater-spotted-eagle.