Lesser Spotted Eagle
Aquila pomarina
Habitat
Ground
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
1.4 kg
About This Species
A medium-sized migratory eagle of forest edges, wetlands and open farmland across eastern Europe and parts of Asia, seen soaring on flattish wings or perched at forest margins scanning for small mammals, frogs and insects. It nests in mature trees close to open hunting ground and is most visible during spring and autumn migration, when birds travel in loose groups along established flyways. Watching over wetland or farmland edges near forest during these periods offers the best chance of a sighting.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Keep well back from any nest site and avoid entering forest close to a known nesting tree during the breeding season, since eagles are highly sensitive to disturbance near the nest and may abandon a breeding attempt if repeatedly disturbed.
- It is a legally protected species across most of its European range, with specific nest-disturbance offences in many countries, so follow local raptor protection guidance rather than approaching for a closer view.
- Use a scope or long lens from a distance instead of approaching on foot.
LCAvesAccipitriformesAccipitridae
Seasonal Activity
162,380 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 1.4 kg
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.