About Hieraaetus pennatus (Gmelin, 1788)
The booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) is a small eagle, similar in size to the common buzzard but with a more eagle-like shape. Males weigh 510–770 g (1.12–1.70 lb), while females weigh 840–1,025 g (1.852–2.260 lb); the species reaches a length of 40 cm and a wingspan of 110–132 cm. There are two fairly distinct plumage forms. Pale morph booted eagles are mainly light grey, with darker head and flight feathers. Dark morphs have mid-brown plumage and dark grey flight feathers. A study investigating polymorphism found that these discrete colour morphs follow a Mendelian inheritance pattern, with the paler allele being dominant. In South Africa, 20% of the population is the dark colour morph, while darker morphs are much more common in eastern populations such as those in Russia. Booted eagles are typically seen alone or in pairs. Their call is a shrill kli-kli-kli. The booted eagle has breeding populations across many regions of both the northern and southern hemispheres, including southern Europe, North Africa, across Asia, western South Africa, and Namibia. Northern populations are migratory, spending November to February in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, while the small southern African populations are sedentary. This species occupies wooded, often hilly countryside that includes some open areas. It breeds in rocky, broken terrain, but migrating individuals will use almost any habitat except dense forest. Palearctic breeding booted eagles usually nest in coniferous or deciduous woodlands, most often in trees. The booted eagle typically flies at relatively low heights, which makes it easy to spot. However, the dark morph can be confused with other local medium-sized birds of prey. In South Africa, 20% of the population is the dark colour morph.
