ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the forms, foraging and feeding habits, breeding patterns and statuses of the “True” eagles, the Genus Aquila within the subfamily Aquilinae. These species include the Golden Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, Gurney's Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle, Bonelli's Eagle, African Hawk-eagle and Cassin's Hawk-eagle. These species are associated in classifications partly due to the legs being feathered to the toes, which is the root of the name “Booted eagles.” These comprise a monophyletic group, a group of organisms forming a clade, consisting of all the descendants from a common ancestor. The true eagles within the Booted eagles are found on every continent except Antarctica, and within this range they are a primary or dominant group of avian predators. They are found mostly in forest, mixed forest and grassland, and in both mountain terrain and lowlands. Prey species are mostly mammals and birds, rather than reptiles and fish, which are taken mostly by snake eagles and serpent eagles, and sea eagles and fish eagles.
