About this species
The Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) is a large, brown migratory eagle closely tied to open steppe and semi-desert habitats across Eurasia. It feeds largely on ground squirrels and other small mammals in its breeding grounds, and on carrion and termites in its wintering areas.
The species undertakes some of the longest eagle migrations, with Central Asian birds travelling to wintering grounds in East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent. Thousands of Steppe Eagles pass over flyway bottlenecks each autumn, providing some of the most spectacular raptor migrations in the world.
Electrocution on medium-voltage power lines, poisoning, and habitat conversion have driven severe declines; the species was uplisted to Endangered by IUCN in 2015.
External references
Related projects
CompletedKazakhstan
From Research and Educating to Action: Transforming Energy Policies to Conserve the Steppe Eagles of Kazakhstan
This ACBK–RSPB initiative builds on earlier UK Aid support to reduce key threats driving Steppe Eagle declines in Kazakhstan—especially mortality on hazardous power infrastructure—while strengthening national capacity and policy action.
OngoingKazakhstan
Steppe Eagle Migration, Behavior & Conservation
This research and conservation project uses GPS tracking to better understand the migration, behaviour, and conservation needs of the Steppe Eagle.
