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Spanish Imperial Eagle
Conservation status
Vulnerable
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Aquila Species: A. adalberti
Binomial name
Aquila adalberti C. L. Brehm, 1861
Synonyms
Aquila heliacea adalberti

The Spanish Imperial Eagle, Iberian Imperial Eagle or Adalbert's Eagle, (Aquila adalberti), is closely related to the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). It occurs only in South and West of Spain, Portugal and possibly northern Morocco. Until recently (Sangster et al., 2002), the Spanish Imperial Eagle was considered to be a subspecies of the Imperial Eagle, but is now widely regarded as being a separate species due to differences in morphology (Cramp & Simmons, 1980), ecology (Meyburg, 1994), and molecular characteristics (Seibold et al., 1996; Padilla et al., 1999).

The Spanish Imperial Eagle is smaller and darker than its oriental cousin, and it is a resident species (A. heliaca migrated to SE during winter). This eagle feeds mainly on rabbits, but it can predate over many other animals, like rodents, hares, pigeons, crows, ducks and foxes. The species is classified as Vulnerable. Threats include loss of habitat and illegal poisoning. There has also been a decline in the Spanish rabbit population, as a result of myxomatosis and other viral illnesses. The current population is estimated at less than 500.

In Spain there are currently around 220 pairs reported and 2 in Portugal^[1], and it is making a very slow recovery although it is still an endangered species. A small population is preserved in Doñana National Park, Spain (descendants from only seven pairs in 1970: Schuhmacher, 1973) but the bulk of its population live in the mediterranean woods of the central and southwestern quarters of the country.

The binomial commemorates Adalbert of Prussia.

• BirdLife International (2005). Aquila adalberti. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is vulnerable

• Cramp, S. & Simmons, K. E. L. (1980) Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol. 2. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

• Ferguson-Lees, James & Christie, David A. (2001): Raptors of the World. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. ISBN 0-618-12762-3

• Ferrer, Miguel (2001): The Spanish Imperial Eagle. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-34-2

• Meyburg, B. U. (1994): [210 & 211: Imperial Eagles]. In: del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew & Sargatal, Jordi (editors): Handbook of Birds of the World, Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl: 194-195, plate 20. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-15-6

• Padilla, J. A.; Martinez-Trancón, M.; Rabasco, A. & Fernández-García, J. L. (1999): The karyotype of the Iberian imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) analyzed by classical and DNA replication banding. Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics 84: 61–66. doi:10.1159/000015216 (HTML abstract)

• Sangster, George; Knox, Alan G.; Helbig, Andreas J. & Parkin, David T. (2002): Taxonomic recommendations for European birds. Ibis 144(1): 153–159. doi:10.1046/j.0019-1019.2001.00026.x PDF fulltext

• Schuhmacher, Eugen (1973): Europe's Paradises

• Seibold, I.; Helbig, A. J.; Meyburg, B. U.; Negro, J. J. & Wink, M. (1996): Genetic differentiation and molecular phylogeny of European Aquila eagles (Aves: Falconiformes) according to cytochrome-b nucleotide sequences. In: Meyburg, B. U. & Chancellor, R. D. (eds): Eagle Studies: 1–15. Berlin: World Working Group on Birds of Prey.

• BirdLife Species Factsheet