Rare Steppe Eagle Spotted in Andhra Pradesh | 20 Jan 2020

A Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) has been sighted in Andhra Pradesh during Asian Bird Census.

This is the second time a Steppe Eagle has been sighted in Andhra Pradesh in the past two decades.
The sighting of this rare species highlights the need for exploration of the diversity of avian life in the State.

The Steppe Eagle is a migratory raptor which has undergone extremely rapid population declines within all its range.
- Steppe Eagles may make migratory movements of many thousands of kilometres crossing numerous national jurisdictional boundaries.
- The bird has moved from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Endangered’ under IUCN Red List.
It breeds in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia during the winter season.
Steppe eagle is the second-largest migratory eagle species to India.
The threats to the Steppe Eagle include habitat loss/degradation, electrocution on/ collision with energy infrastructure, poisoning through herbicides/ pesticides/ veterinary drugs in food sources, etc.