This is the most widespread of the Aquila eagles, ranging across the Nearctic and Palearctic (70°N to 20°S). It is uncommon to scarce across its range. In general, the species is sedentary, with juveniles dispersing as far as 1,000 km in their first few years. Birds occupying the mostly northerly regions (>65°N), such as Fennoscandia and northern Russia, migrate south. In the Palearctic, movements occur in a broad front to wintering areas in south-east Europe. Juveniles and immatures will go as far as North Africa (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). The species occupies a wide range of flat or mountainous, largely open habitats, often above the tree line (Watson 2010), from sea level to 4,000 m (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). The species’ diet is very broad, taking mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, insects and carrion variously, depending on the regional prey availability. Prey taken are usually 0.5–4.0 kg and the species can hunt in pairs or small groups (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Nesting occurs on cliff ledges and where these are not available, in large trees or similar artificial structures. Nests are constructed from sticks and are added to in successive years, growing to 2 m in diameter. The breeding season spans March – August throughout the majority of its range, and in southern areas begins as early as November; whilst in the most northerly regions it will start as late as April (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).

This species occurs across the Mediterranean region.

Conservation Actions Underway
Bern Convention Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. The banning of poisons and the introduction of legal protection in some areas of its range have permitted the species to increase or at least stabilize in many countries (Orta et al. 2013). In Morocco, the species is included in the preparation of a strategy for conservation of birds of prey (https://www.iucn.org/news/mediterranean/202001/first-steps-towards-a-moroccan-strategy-raptor-conservation-iucns-guidance) and in a national programme for monitoring populations (UICN and DEF 2020). An initiative to identify dangerous powerlines and action plans for their correction has also started in Morocco with the collaboration of governmental bodies and NGOs (Godino et al. 2016, Martin Martin et al. 2019). There are some initiatives to recover and release sick and hurt wild individuals, and there is ongoing work for the tagging of eagles (including GPS loggers) in Morocco (K. Rousselon pers. obs.). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Enforcement of protection against illegal killings and egg-collecting is needed in many countries. Education programmes demonstrating the benefits and desirability of maintaining healthy populations of this species should be implemented. In remote upland areas, general land-use policies should not compromise key feeding and nesting requirements. The implementation of access restrictions and legal habitat protection is required in nesting areas to avoid disturbance and habitat destruction. Dangerous electricity pylons should be retrofitted and priority areas for power line mitigation works established. Surveys of the breeding and dispersing population should be conducted to determine, protect and manage potential breeding sites and key dispersal areas.