Steppe Eagle

WHY IN NEWS?

A lone endangered steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) has been sighted near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, during the ‘Asian Waterbird Census’.

ABOUT STEPPE EAGLE

• It is an endangered species according to IUCN red list of threatened species.
• Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae.
• Habitat: It breeds from Romania east through the south Russian and Central Asian steppes to Mongolia. The European and Central Asian birds winter in Africa, and the eastern birds in India.
• Throughout its range it favors open dry habitats, such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah.
• The Steppe Eagle appears on the flag of Kazakhstan. It is also the National bird (animal) of Egypt and appears on its flag.
• Steppe eagle is the second-largest migratory eagle species to India.
• The threats to the Steppe Eagle include habitat loss/degradation, electrocution on/ collision with energy infrastructure, poisoning through herbicides/ pesticides/ veterinary drugs in food sources, etc.

Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Steppe Eagle which was recently in news:
1.India is a natural habitat of Steppe Eagle.
2.It is an endangered species according to IUCN red list of threatened species.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a)1 only
b)2 only
c)Both 1 and 2
d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question