At a hidden base high in the Alps, the Axis are nearing completion of a functional nuclear reactor. Allies must destroy it at all costs. The strike team has devised an ingenious plan. Instead of attacking the heavily defended
Eagles are large
birds of prey which inhabit mainly the Old World, with
only two species (Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle) commonly
found in North America, a few in South America, the
(White-bellied Sea Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle) in Australia
and the Philippine Eagle in the Philippine Archipelago. They are
members of the
bird order
Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, according to alternative classification
schemes), family
Accipitridae and belong to several genera which are not
necessarily closely related to each other.
Eagles are differentiated from other broad-winged birds
of prey mainly by their larger size, more powerful build,
and heavier head and bill. Even the smallest eagles, like
the Booted Eagle, which is comparable in size to a Common
Buzzard or Red-tailed Hawk has relatively longer and more evenly
broad wings, and more direct, faster flight. Most eagles are
larger than any other raptors apart from the
vultures.
In Britain before 1678, Eagle referred
specifically to the Golden Eagle, the other native species,
the White-tailed Eagle, being known as the Erne. The modern
name "Golden Eagle" for Aquila chrysaetos was introduced by
the naturalist John Ray.
Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large powerful
hooked
beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs,
and powerful
talons. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable
them to spot potential prey from a very long distance. This
keen eyesight is primarily contributed by their extremely
large pupils which cause minimal diffraction (spreading) of the incoming light.
Eagles build their nest in tall trees or on high cliffs.
Their nests, which are sometimes called eyries, can grow to
10 feet in diameter and weigh as much as 2000 pounds.
Eagles are sometimes used in
falconry. They appear prominently in myth and
literature. In the Old World, such references are commonly
to the Golden Eagle (or possibly closely related species
found in warm climates).
Thermographic image of an eagle,
thermoregulating using his wings
Taxonomy
For many years there has been some scientific debate as
to whether the Accipitriformes are a separate order, or
belong to the Falconiformes.
Major new research
into eagle taxonomy suggests that the important genera
Aquila and Hieraaetus are not composed of nearest
relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these
genera will soon take place, with some species being moved
to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus.
Bonelli's Eagle, Booted Eagle and African Hawk-eagle
have been moved from Hieraaetus to Aquila.
Greater Spotted Eagle, Aquila clanga and Lesser Spotted
Eagle, Aquila pomarina should be moved either to join
Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis or, perhaps
better, all three of these species should move to
Ictinaetus with the Black Eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis.
Steppe Eagles and Tawny Eagles, once thought to be
conspecific, are shown not even to be each other's
nearest relatives.
Species
FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
Subfamily
Buteoninae - hawks (buzzards), true eagles and
sea-eagles
Coat of arms of the town of
Berg en Terblijt in the Netherlands, an example
of the prolific use of the eagle in European
heraldry.
The eagle has been used by many nations as a national
symbol, depicting power, beauty and independence.
Ancient Egypt. The
Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt used it as their seal
Arabic world. Many
Arabic states and organisations use eagles as symbols,
e.g. the PLO.
Napoleonic eagle
Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic integrates three historical parts:
Bohemia (with a double tailed lion in the emblem),
Moravia and Silesia (both with eagle females in emblems -
red-and-white chequered and black).
First French Empire.
Napoleon Bonaparte recovered the Roman golden eagle
as the symbol of his new French empire.
Mexico. The bird on the
Mexican coat of arms and flag is a Golden Eagle.
Moldova. An eagle is part of the coat of arms
and flag of Moldova.
The Philippines. The endangered
Philippine Eagle is the national bird of the
Philippines.
Poland. A white eagle on a red field is the
coat of arms of Poland.
Romania. The eagle is also part of the
coat of arms of Romania
Rome. The
Romans used it on the standards of their armies. From this derives:
The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) at
Constantinople chose a two-headed golden eagle
as its symbol. One head symbolised ancient Rome, and
the other head symbolised "new Rome" at
Constantinople. From this derives:
Albania. The two-headed eagle is the
emblem of "Shqipëria" or Land of the Eagles,
which is known in English as Albania
Russian Empire. After the fall of
Constantinople, the
Russian Empire took the two-headed eagle as
its own symbol.
Charlemagne and Holy Roman Empire. After
his crowning as the new Roman Emperor,
Charlemagne adopted the ancient Roman eagle as his
own symbol. The Holy Roman Empire born of his
kingdom took the eagle, but the Habsburgs replaced
the golden eagle by an imperial eagle. From this derives:
Austria. The
Austrian Empire had a two-headed eagle as its
symbol. After the abolition of Austria-Hungary,
Austria took as its symbol a one-headed eagle in
the modern coat of arms of Austria.
Germany and Prussia.
Prussia, and later Germany have used a black eagle as their
national symbol.
Spain. The "Catholic Kings", Isabella
and Ferdinand, used the
Golden Eagle as a part of the royal shield. The
eagle was on the Spanish shield until 1978.
Serbia/Montenegro. The Two-headed eagle is
the emblem of Serbia, Montenegro, and Serbia and
Montenegro.
A Selçuklu kartalı, the coat-of-arms of
the
Seljuk dynasty.
Seljuk Turks and
Ottoman Turks used a double-headed eagle as
coats-of-arms.
USA. The
United States has adopted the North American Bald Eagle
as its national emblem. Although the Golden Eagle is
found in North America, U.S. references to an
unspecified "eagle" are often to the Bald Eagle; this
point was not realized by an American coin die engraver, who, told to depict "an
eagle", depicted a Golden Eagle; this error is the cause
of the expression "illegal eagle".
Eagles as religious objects
In Jewish tradition the eagle is a symbol of true
greatness, and the nation's greatest leaders such as the
great sage of the Middle Ages Maimonides and the Lubavitcher
Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the modern day leader
of world Jewry have been referred to by their peers and
students as "The Great Eagle". The Torah compares G-d
Himself to an eagle in Deuteronomy, 32.11-12. "As an eagle
awakens its nest, hovering over its fledglings, it spreads
its wings, taking them and carrying them on its pinions.
[So] the Lord guided them [the Israelites] alone, and there
was no alien deity with Him."
The eagle is a sacred bird in some cultures and the
feathers of the eagle are central to many
religious and spiritual customs, especially amongst Native
Americans. Native Americans revere eagles as sacred
religious objects and the feathers and parts of Bald and
Golden Eagles are often compared to the Bible and crucifix. Eagle feathers are often used in various
ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and
qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.
Despite modern and historic Native American practices of
giving eagle feathers to non-Native Americans and Native
American members of other tribes who have been deemed
worthy, current United States eagle feather law stipulates
that only individuals of certifiable Native American
ancestry enrolled in a federally-recognized tribe are
legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or
spiritual use.
Eagles as organizational symbols
USA. Eagles are a common motif for American
companies and organizations seeking association with a
national identity. A few examples are the United States
Postal Service, the Constitution Party, and the name of
the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.
Portugal. Eagle is the symbol of the
Portuguese football team Sport Lisboa e
Benfica.
References
Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes
affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists
- Martin Collinson,
British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323
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