Steppe eagle
![Птенец степного орла (Aquila nipalensis). Автор: Онгарбаев Н. 3.4 Степной орёл2.4 Сохранение исчезающих видов хищных птиц в КЗ](https://www.brcc.kz/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Ongarbayev-0-scaled-circle-688d53430b7505758c0720f75a41bca3-cxzkolbi4yf9.jpg)
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) - символ степи Казахстана. В республике гнездится 68,5-82,2% мировой популяции вида. Численность вида на 2018 год в Казахстане составила 25500-46065 пар. Численность степного орла сокращается (RRRCN).
Conservation status
“Endangered” (EN) listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN);
“Restored, in need of constant monitoring” (Category V) in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Ссылка на источник) or (PDF File);
Included in Appendix II of the CITES Convention;
Included in the List of rare and endangered animal species of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Appearance
A large eagle with wide and long wings and a short rounded tail. Coloration of adult birds is monophonic dark brown. The flight feathers underneath are the same color as the wing coverts and belly, or darker than them, with a clearly visible transverse striping. There is a white spot on the upper tail. There is a rusty or ocher spot on the back of the head, the size of which varies significantly in different individuals. Young and semi-adult birds have a narrow white stripe on the underside of the wing, formed by large undercoverts of the flight feathers (the so-called “juvenile” stripe), which clearly distinguishes Steppe Eagles of this age from other eagle species (RRRCN).
![Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis). Photo: N. Ongarbayev 3.4 Степной орёл2.4 Сохранение исчезающих видов хищных птиц в КЗ](https://www.brcc.kz/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Ongarbayev-11-1024x683-square-44a0ac2cc090da4ba52bb4bf66cc7560-trgzjwh1ev38.jpg)
Species distribution
Breeds in steppes, semi-deserts, and deserts throughout central Kazakhstan. Found everywhere on roaming and migration (Birds.kz).
Threats
- Death from an electric shock on overhead power lines (OPL) with a capacity of 6-10 kV.
- Habitat loss;
- Poisoning in wintering areas;
- Illegal catch and trade;