Greater Spotted Eagle
Status: Category VI, Near Threatened, NT. One of 4 representatives of the genus in the fauna of the Kyrgyz Republic. Monotypic species.
General distribution and in the country. Eurasia from southern Finland, Poland, Romania, the republics of the former Yugoslavia, east to Primorye and northeastern China. In the European part of the Russian Federation, north to the 64th parallel, in the Ob River valley to the 62nd parallel, in the Yenisei valley - to the 63rd parallel, in the Pre-Baikal region - to the 54th parallel, in Transbaikalia - to the 53rd parallel, in the Amur valley and presumably in Primorye - to the 49th parallel. South to Macedonia, Dobruja, in Ukraine approximately to the 50th parallel, in the Volga valley to the 53rd parallel, in Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan to the 52nd parallel, to the southwestern Altai, Kentei, northern part of Hebei province. It is a resident bird in Northern India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar [7, 19]. In the Kyrgyz Republic, it is mainly observed during migration in the Chui Valley, less often in the Issyk-Kul basin. There are reports of its nesting in the past in the Kyrgyz and Alai ridges [2, 31].
Habitat. Prefers plain and low- to mid-mountain landscapes, adhering to riparian habitats.
Population. Information on the population of Greater Spotted Eagles is quite scarce. In Eastern Pre-Issyk-Kul, the population in spruce forests is 0.007 individuals/km² [31]. In November 2005, A. Ostashchenko observed one bird in the riverside thickets of the Chu River, near the village of Jangi-Dzher.
Life style (life cycles). Migratory species. Feeds mainly on waterfowl, small passerines, frogs, often stealing prey from smaller birds of prey. Often emits a sharp clucking sound while sitting at the top of a tree. Nests in spring, starting in April, building a massive nest of branches and twigs near the tops of trees, with a central depression lined with leaves. Lays 1-2 white eggs, sometimes with reddish speckles.
Limiting factors. Reduction of suitable nesting habitats. Less frequently - direct destruction by humans.
Breeding (keeping in captivity). Not kept in captivity in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Existing conservation measures. There are no special conservation measures in the republic. The species is listed in the IUCN Red List as Near Threatened in category VI.
Recommended conservation measures. It is necessary to protect areas suitable for nesting, prohibit the logging of riverside forests.
Чаар буркут
Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga Pallas, 1811
Status: Category VI, Near Threatened. Migrating bird in the Chu valley, rarer in the Issyk-Kul region. There is old information about breeding of the species in the Kyrgyz and Alai Mountain Ridges. Prefers plain, low- and midlands, next to well-watered areas. The information about numbers is scarce. It is extremely rare in spruce forests of the eastern part of the Issyk-Kul region (0.007 individuals per km²). One bird was seen in November 2005 in floodplain forests of the Chu River. Hunts after waterfowl, passerines, frogs, often pirating food from other birds of prey. The nest is a massive platform of sticks and twigs built near the top of a tree. Lays 1-2 eggs. Limiting factors are reduction of suitable habitats, rarer - direct destruction by humans. No evidence of holding it in captivity in Kyrgyzstan. Special conservation measures were not undertaken in the country. It is recommended to protect suitable nesting habitats, prohibit felling trees in floodplains of rivers and lakes.