Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennstuS

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Breeds in Baluch istan and Himalayas; widespread in winter, except parts of NW and NE subcontinent, and E India. Smallish eagle which can be rather kite-like in appearance. Wings are comparativelylo ngand narrow, with ample hand, and tail is long and square-ended. When gliding and soaring, wings are held slight lyforward and are flat or slightly angled down at carpal. Twists tail in kite - like fa shion. in all plumages. shows small white shoulder patches (at base of leading edge of wing), pale panel across med ian coverts, pale wedge on inner primaries, pale scapulars, white crescent a cross uppertail-coverts. and greyish underside to tail with darker centre and tip. Head, underbody a ndunderwing-coverts are whitish, brown or rufous respectively in pale, dark and rufous morphs. Juvenile plumage is much as adult. but shows broad white trailing edge to wings and tail when fresh.