Recently, western part of Rajastan has been recognised as a stronghold of the Steppe Eagle, a magnificent raptor that winters in the state.
About Steppe Eagle:
It is a member of the subfamily Aquilinae, also known as the "booted eagles".
Appearance: The Steppe eagle is a large, bulky, and robust-looking eagle. It is mainly dark brown in color with a longish but very thick neck and a relatively small head.
Habitat: It is found in steppe, desert, semi-desert, open savanna, pastures, agricultural fields, paddy fields, grassland, and open woodland.
Distribution: It is mainly found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
It is a specialized predator of ground squirrels on the breeding ground.
It is the only eagle to nest primarily on the ground.
It mainly breeds in central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia, it undertakes an annual southward migration as temperatures drop.
Diet: Steppe eagles are carnivores and prey mainly on small-sized mammals, with some birds (such as queleas) and reptiles and
Threats: The major threats to the Steppe eagle include habitat loss, persecution, wildfires, predation (and trampling by cattle) of chicks.
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