Imperial Eagle
Aquila heliaca
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyAccipitridae (Accipítrids)
- GenusAquila (True Eagles)
- SpeciesAquila heliaca (Imperial Eagle)
The eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a large bird of prey that breeds in southeastern Europe and extensively through West and Central Asia. Most populations are migratory and winter in northeastern Africa, the Middle East and South and East Asia. Like all eagles, the eastern imperial eagle is a member of the family Accipitridae. Furthermore, its feathered legs mark it as a member of the subfamily Aquilinae. It is a large, dark-colored eagle, with a resemblance to other members of the genus Aquila, but it is usually the darkest species in its range. It is an opportunistic predator that mostly selects smallish mammals as prey but also a fairly large proportion of birds, reptile and other prey types, including carrion. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Imperial Eagle sighting in Hortobágy National Park, based on 130 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Hortobágy National Park
Greater Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga
Lesser Spotted Eagle
Aquila pomarina
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Western Marsh-Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
White-tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargus
Short-toed Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kiskunság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 2 | Keoladeo National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Hortobágy National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 4 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 5 | Kaziranga National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 6 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 7 | Jim Corbett National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 8 | Kaeng Krachan National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 9 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 10 | Bale Mountains National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 11 | Lake Manyara National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 12 | Mudumalai National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 13 | Tatra National Park | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | |
| 14 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 15 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 16 | Khao Yai National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Imperial Eagle in Hortobágy National Park?
About 26% of wildlife watchers report a Imperial Eagle sighting in Hortobágy National Park, based on 130 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Imperial Eagle in Hortobágy National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Imperial Eagle in Hortobágy National Park in our monthly data.