Despite the strength and intelligence of these birds, however, eagles are also exceptionally vulnerable to different risks raptors face because of their long reproductive cycles and slow population growth. More than 30 eagle species—nearly half of all species of eagles—are considered vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. Knowing which species need extra protection is the first step toward protecting all of these noble raptors.
Types of Eagles
While none of the different types of eagles are officially designated, these birds’ names often help sort them into different unofficial classifications. These casual notations are based on the birds’ preferred prey or similarities to other raptors, such as:
Fish-eagles: These raptors are exceptional fishermen and are most frequently found in coastal areas where fish are abundant. Their diets are often primarily piscivorous, though they do hunt other prey and can still be found in some inland ranges. Hawk-eagles and buzzard-eagles: These eagles show a great number of similarities to hawks. Small, immature hawk-eagles or buzzard-eagles may even be confused for hawks. Their markings and coloration can be similar to hawks, and their bills are often smaller than other, larger eagles. Snake-eagles and serpent-eagles: These eagles are clever hunters of reptiles, especially snakes of different sizes, and they may even be ophiophagous. Venomous snakes are no problem for these raptors to hunt, and they are often found in habitats such as deserts or tropical regions where snakes are more abundant.
It is important to note that these unofficial classifications are not exclusive. Many eagles that are not called “fish-eagles” still hunt fish, many eagles not called “hawk-eagles” can still look similar to hawks, and many eagles not called “snake-eagles” will prey on any snakes they can catch. Because these birds have wide ranges, it is also common for a single eagle species to have several different common names, each of which may highlight a different characteristic or trait. Because common names can be so widely varied and confusing, learning and using birds’ scientific names to note individual species is always a good idea for official lists and records.
Alphabetical List of Eagle Species Sorted by Common Name
- Considered threatened or vulnerable due to population decreases and growing survival threats.** - Listed as endangered and in critical danger of extinction if conservation is not implemented (Classifications by BirdLife International).
African Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) African Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus spilogaster) *Andaman Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis elgini) Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii) Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Banded Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) *Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini) Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis) Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus) *Black-and-Chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus melanoleucus) Black-Chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) Black-Chested Snake-Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus alboniger) Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciatus) Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus) Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle (Aquila africanus) Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) Congo Serpent-Eagle (Dryotriorchis spectabilis) *Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis) Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela) **Crowned Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus) *Crowned Hawk-Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) *Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) **Flores Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus floris) Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) *Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) *Grey-headed Fish-Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) *Gurney’s Eagle (Aquila gurneyi) *Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) *Indian Spotted Eagle (Aquila hastata) **Javan Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi) *Lesser Fish-Eagle (Ichthyophaga humilis) Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) Long-Crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) **Madagascar Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) **Madagascar Serpent-Eagle (Eutriorchis astur) *Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) Mountain Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis) *Mountain Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis kinabaluensis) *New Guinea Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae) New Guinea Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus weiskei) *Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) *Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) **Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) *Philippine Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus philippensis) Philippine Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis holospilus) Rufous-Bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii) *Sanford’s Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi) Short-Toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) *Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus solitarius) *South Nicobar Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis klossi) *Southern Banded Snake-Eagle (Circaetus fasciolatus) *Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) *Steller’s Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus lanceolatus) Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis rufipectus) Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) Wahlberg’s Eagle (Aquila wahlbergi) *Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus nanus) Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) White-Bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
