Common name: Greater Spotted Eagle
Scientific name: Clanga clanga
Family: Accipitridae

Size:
Body length: 59–71 cm
Wingspan: 157–179 cm
Weight: 1600–2500 g

Identification:
A large, powerful eagle with broad wings and a relatively short tail. Adults are generally dark brown overall, often appearing uniform at a distance, with a slightly paler nape in some individuals. Juveniles may show small pale spots or streaks on the upperwings and back. In flight, it appears heavy and broad-winged, with slow, deep wingbeats and a strong soaring silhouette. It is bulkier and darker than the Lesser Spotted Eagle.

Habitat:
Wetlands, marshes, river valleys, flooded meadows, woodland edges, and open countryside near water. During migration and winter, it may also occur in farmland and other open habitats.

Status in the UAE:
Rare winter visitor and passage migrant. Recorded mainly in wetlands and open areas with suitable feeding opportunities.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on small mammals, waterbirds, reptiles, amphibians, and carrion.

Behavior:
Often hunts by soaring over open ground or watching from a perch. It may glide low over wetlands or fields before dropping onto prey. Usually solitary, though more than one bird may occur in rich wintering areas. Like many large eagles, it relies on thermal currents during migration.

Conservation status:
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)