Bonelli's eagle

There are about 60 species of eagles worldwide, belonging to almost two dozen genera. Of those, only two species are found in North America, the sea eagle that is our national emblem and the golden eagle of the American West. Most of the rest are native to Africa and Eurasia, and many nations there have also adopted eagles as a symbol of their nation's strength.

A new study appearing in the journal Isis takes an in-depth look at one European species. Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata, a species native to the Mediterranean region. Although considered an endangered species by some, the IUCN does not consider that they meet the criteria to be listed as "vulnerable."

In the Ibis study, researchers tracked 18 Bonelli's eagles in three different regions around the Mediterranean with the goal establishing the size of and examining spatial use patterns. Of particular interest were potential differences in sex-related differences in territorial behaviour. The findings suggest that, like many eagles, Bonelli's tends a larger home territory outside the breeding season, although nesting areas remain important year-round as the eagles use them as sites to rest and recuperate. There are important conservation implications, as the study suggests that nesting areas are important, even if there aren't eagles nesting there.