Distribution of the species
This species breeds in Northeastern Europe, Russia and China. It winters in the Balkans, Asia Minor, the Middle East, Northeast Africa, South Asia and Central Europe. In Bulgaria it is a transient, wintering and probably nesting species. It flies along the Black Sea coast, Pirin and Slavyanka, Eastern Rhodopes and others. It winters around the Shabla and Durankulak lakes, the Ropotamo river, the Ovcharitsa dam and others.
Description of the species (biological and ecological features)
In Bulgaria, the Greater spotted eagle reaches a body length of 68 cm and a wingspan of 168 cm. In adults, the color is dark brown and species with light plumage are rare. Their tail is short and the iris is dark brown. They young specimens are black-brown, with light spots on the back and upper wings, which form several rows of whitish stripes. They are found in floodplain forests, and there is no data for Bulgaria, where exactly they nest. Females lay 2 eggs, which incubate for 42-44 days. They feed on small and moderately large vertebrates, insects or carrion. They inhabit wetlands with concentrations of wetland birds and high trees around, flooded and other deciduous forests, shores of water basins, open southeastern slopes. It migrates and winters mainly along sea coasts and wetlands.
Conservation status
Unknown.
Conservation state
This species is included in the Red Book of Bulgaria with the category “Critically Endangered” (CR), as well as in Annexes 2 and 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA). The Greater spotted eagle is also included in Annex I to Directive 2009/147/ EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds. In the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is included with the category “Vulnerable” (VU).
*Note: For the description of birds is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; Michev T., D. Simeonov, L. Profirov. 2012. Birds of the Balkan Peninsula. Ecotan, Sofia, 300 pp; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).