Gurney's eagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gurney's eagle |
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Aquila
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gurneyi
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The Gurney's eagle (Aquila gurneyi) is a large bird of prey. It belongs to the eagle family, called Accipitridae. You can find these powerful birds in places like New Guinea and the Wallacea islands. Sometimes, they even fly all the way to Australia.
The name "Gurney's eagle" honors a British banker and bird enthusiast named John Henry Gurney (1819–1890). He loved studying birds.
Contents
What Does Gurney's Eagle Look Like?
This eagle is a fairly large bird. It is mostly dark brown to black. The feathers under its wings are a bit lighter. It also has a rounded tail.
Size and Weight
Gurney's eagles are about 74–86 cm (29–34 in) long. Their wings can spread wide, from 1.65 and 1.9 m (5.4 and 6.2 ft). One young bird was found to weigh about 3.06 kg (6.7 lb). Female eagles are usually bigger than males. When they glide, their wings stay flat and level.
What Do They Eat?
Gurney's eagles are hunters. They eat different kinds of animals. Their diet includes mammals, like cuscuses. They also hunt reptiles, fish, and other birds.
Young Eagles
Young Gurney's eagles, called juveniles, look a bit different. Their shoulder feathers, wing feathers, and back are brown. They might have gray and buff spots. Their black tail has faint stripes. The head and belly are light brown, fading to a creamy color on their belly and legs.
Where Do Gurney's Eagles Live?
Gurney's eagles live in many places. You can find them from the Moluccas islands to Irian Jaya. They also live in most of New Guinea. They can live from sea level up to 1500 meters (about 4,900 feet) high.
They have also been seen on Saibai and Boigu islands. These islands are in the north-western Torres Strait. This means they are also part of the Australian bird list. These eagles can live in many different types of places. They are found from the coast all the way up to snowy mountains.
Is Gurney's Eagle in Danger?
Gurney's eagles do not live in large groups. There are not many of them in one place. Their numbers are slowly going down. This is because their homes are being lost or damaged.
Because of this, the Gurney's eagle is considered to be Near Threatened. This means it's not critically endangered yet, but its numbers are getting lower. It is also listed on CITES Appendix II. This means it needs protection to make sure its population does not drop too much.
Images for kids
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Skin of a juvenile Gurney's eagle.
See also
In Spanish: Águila de las Molucas para niños
