Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

Adult Spanish imperial eagles occupy territories in pairs all year-round (7). They defend these territories from intrusion by other raptors, allowing only immature members of their own species to enter (8). Nests are built in tall oak trees, in small stands of trees far from human disturbance (7). During the breeding season, both the male and female of the monogamous pair will participate in the incubation of the eggs and the care of the chicks. Prey is torn into manageable pieces for the chicks until they are ready to hunt for themselves. Parent eagles will even shelter the chicks from heavy rain (8). Feeding almost exclusively on rabbits, the Spanish imperial eagle's population density, range and reproductive performance are influenced by the abundance and distribution of prey in the area (2). This eagle species is also known to eat greylag geese in southern Spain in the winter (9).

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