ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the forms, foraging and feeding habits, breeding patterns and statuses of the remaining genera of the Booted eagles (outside Aquila), and including Hawk-eagles (Hieraaetus, Spizaetus, Nisaetus), the Spotted eagles (Clanga), Black eagles (Ictinaetus), Crowned eagles (Stephanoaetus), Martial eagles (Polemaetus) and Rufous-bellied eagle (Lophotriorchis) within the Subfamily Aquilinae. These remaining Booted eagles are generally small to medium sized, similar to large or very large hawks, but the Crowned and Martial eagles are the largest and most powerful eagles in Africa. The classification of several species is disputed, with some moving in or out Classification has been a scientific issue for several years, with some species moved out of Aquila. For example, Hieraaetus may be linked but separate from Aquila and Spizaetus. Some authors also argue that not all the species have the characteristics generally attributed to this group, namely comparatively small size, slender body, small bill, long legs, and deeper emargination on the primaries. The prey taken by these species vary according to their size, with the larger species taking animals as large as monkeys and small antelopes, and the smaller species taking small and medium-sized mammals and birds.
