Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Aquila adalberti
- Family
- Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks (Accipitridae)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
Overview
The Spanish imperial eagle, Spanish eagle, Iberian imperial eagle or Adalbert's eagle (Aquila adalberti) is a species of eagle native to the Iberian Peninsula. The binomial commemorates Prince Adalbert of Bavaria. Due to its distinct "epaulettes", old literature often referred to this species as the white-shouldered eagle.
Formerly, the Spanish imperial eagle was considered to be a subspecies of the eastern imperial eagle, then known simply as the imperial eagle, but is now widely recognised as a separate species due to differences in morphology, ecology, and molecular characteristics.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to see it
Destination guides featuring this bird
Range and habitat
Locally in Iberian Peninsula; formerly Morocco.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Spanish imperial eagle
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
