Description:

Medium-sized to large, raggedy, lax plumage; large head and massive yellow gape reaching rear edge of eye. Broader and longer wings than those of Greater Spotted, with more pronounced and spread fingers, and more protruding head and neck; wings flatter when soaring, and less distinctly angled down at carpals when gliding.

Distribution:

Uncommon passage migrant through all the major valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. Occurs in open habitats such as steppe and semi-desert shrublands, grasslands and around large lakes. Migrates over landscapes up to 4500m.

Behavior:

Forages mainly by soaring high and diving down; also ambushes prey, by waiting at burrow entrance, and takes some prey while walking on ground. Very variable diet, depending on availability of prey species. Mainly small mammals, birds, amphibians, lizards, snakes, small fish, carrion and sometimes insects.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Steppe Eagle in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Steppe Eagle

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.