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Aquila pomarina

warning Regionally Extinct
RE

The Lesser Spotted Eagle is classified as Regionally Extinct (RE). It became extinct during the 1950s and since then no breeding attempts were observed. The literature notes that the species that once nested in northern Israel is the Greater Spotted Eagle (Sela 1975, Paz 1986, Shirihai 1996), but a renewed assessment based on global distribution patterns and habitats of Lesser and Greater Spotted Eagles, shows that the species that nested in Israel was probably the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Hatsofe 2005). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was not assessed (NA) and instead the Greater Spotted Eagle was classified as Regionally Extinct (RE).
RE Current Regional Assessment | RE Previous Regional Assessment | LC World Assessment

Habitats Parks & Woodlands, Mediterranean Maquis
Presence In Israel Summer Breeder
Nesting In Israel Past Breeder
Migration Types Long Range
Zoography Zones Mediterranean
Landscape Formations Mountainous
Vegetation Formations Forest, Mediterranean Maquis, Mediterranean Garrigue, Steppe
Vegetation Densities Medium
Nest Locations Tree
Diet Types Vertebrate, Carrion
Foraging Grounds Ground
Body Sizes Large (over 1000g)
Threat Factors Pesticide Poisoning, Lead Poisoning, Direct Persecution

The Lesser Spotted Eagle is a relatively small and dark eagle that nests in forested areas. Its plumage is uniformly brown, its thighs or “boots” are long and narrow and its beak is small compared to other eagles. In flight, it reveals broad rectangular wings, with paler coverts than its flight and tail feathers. It feeds on small mammals that are found in open fields and plains, occasionally near water sources.

About 15 pairs of Lesser Spotted Eagles nested in northern Israel until the 1960s. Most of the nests were on the edges of the Hula Valley, but also in other parts of the Galilee, Mt. Gilboa and Mt. Carmel. An unsuccessful breeding attempt was recorded in Nahal Kziv in 1972 (Sela 1975, Paz 1986, Shirihai 1996).

The chances of Lesser Spotted Eagles returning to breed in Israel naturally are estimated to be low because of Israel’s location relative to the global range of the species (closest breeding is in southern Turkey), its extinction in Syria and Lebanon and the disjunction from Eastern European populations. All of these factors make the species low priority for reintroduction (Hatsofe & Mayrose 2015, Master Plan for Raptor Conservation in Israel ).

  • הצופה, א. 2004. איזה "עיט מנוקד" קינן בישראל במאה ה- 20? העזניה 32, הוצאת טבע והדברים והחברה להגנת הטבע.
  • סלע, י. 1975. סקר העופות הדורסים 1970–1975. אוניברסיטת תל-אביב: המכון לחקר שמירת הטבע.
  • פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.

Distribution maps

The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel in the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and nesting density during the comparison period. For further reading


Relative Abundance 2010-2020

Breeding density values as calculated from observation records and expert opinions.

Relative Abundance 1980-1990

Breeding density values are based mainly on the book Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).

Occupancy difference 1990-2020

A map that expresses differences in the breeding distribution between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative value - species previously present but is currently absent, positive value - species has not been recorded previously and is currently present, zero - no change in occupancy.

Relative abundance difference 1990-2020

A map that reflects the changes in the relative abundance of the species between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative values - decline in abundance, positive values - increase in abundance, zero - no change in abundance.


Rarity
Vulnerability
Attractiveness
Endemism
Red number
Peripherality

IUCN category
Definition

() districts
Disjunctiveness:
% of protected sites

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