Hieraaetus pennatus - Booted Eagle
Feather characters. Barbules are extremely long (2.3-3.2 mm), entangled and are not, or only slightly pigmented. Slightly thickened nodes (10-11 per mm) are located on proximal end of barbules. Over a short distance these nodes abruptly decrease in size. Further along the barbule, nodal structures are too small to qualify as nodes. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Prongs may occur along the entire length and on both sides of the pennulum, but they are unequally distributed. Their length varies;both minute and short prongs can be found. The longest prongs can reach a length between 0.01 mm and half the adjacent internode length.
Field characters. Length 45-53 cm; wingspan 110-132 cm. Weight: male 701 g (510-770), female 968 g (840-1250) (Dunning, 1993). Small long-tailed eagle, the size of a Buzzard. Plumage dimorphic, the light morph being the most common form: white below, with black flight feathers and uniform pale cinnamon, square tail; upperparts dark brown with broad buff band across wing-coverts and scapulars; primaries darker. Dark phase is uniform black-brown, except for pale tail and innermost primaries. Tarsi heavily feathered; feet yellow. Soars on almost flat wings; flight action much swifter and more agile than Buzzard. Juveniles similar to adults. Dark phase may resemble Black Kite but lacks forked tail.
Voice. Very vocal in breeding season, usually producing a shrill, melodious "kee-kee-kee", or "pipee pi-pi-pi-pi".
Distribution. Rare summer visitor which is somewhat more common in Spain. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Frequents open wooded country near hills; a forest bird preferring mixed stands of deciduous and coniferous trees interrupted by scrub, heathland, and grassland.
Food. Hunts for prey by agile pursuit through bushes and by soaring over countryside, followed by swoop at prey on ground. Food items are small to medium-sized birds, lizards, and small mammals.