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eagle

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Dictionary: ea·gle   (ē'gəl) pronunciation
 
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n.
  1. Any of various large diurnal birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, including members of the genera Aquila and Haliaeetus, characterized by a powerful hooked bill, keen vision, long broad wings, and strong soaring flight.
  2. A representation of an eagle used as an emblem or insignia.
  3. A gold coin formerly used in the United States, stamped with an eagle on the reverse side and having a face value of ten dollars.
  4. Sports. A golf score of two strokes under par on a hole.

v. Sports., -gled, -gling, -gles.

v.tr.

To shoot (a hole in golf) in two strokes under par.

v.intr.

To score an eagle in golf.

[Middle English egle, from Anglo-Norman, from Old Provençal aigla, from Latin aquila.]


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US Military Dictionary: eagle
 
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n. a figure of an eagle, especially as a symbol of the United States, or formerly as a Roman or French ensign.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: eagle
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White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) catching a fish.
(click to enlarge)
White-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) catching a fish. (credit: © Mary Plage/Bruce Coleman Ltd.)
Any of many large, heavy-beaked, big-footed birds of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae, found worldwide. Eagles are generally larger and more powerful than hawks and may resemble a vulture in build and flight characteristics, but they have a fully feathered (often crested) head and strong feet equipped with great curved talons. Most species subsist mainly on live prey, which they generally capture on the ground. Eagles have been a symbol of war and imperial power since Babylonian times. They mate for life. They nest in inaccessible places and use the same nest each year. Species vary from 24 in. to 3.3 ft (60 cm – 1 m) long. The sea eagles include the bald eagle. See also golden eagle.

For more information on eagle, visit Britannica.com.

 
Architecture: eagle
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A pediment of a Greek building.

 
Celtic Mythology: eagle
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[Latin, Middle English egle]

The large, diurnal bird of prey (genus Aquila) plays a surprisingly small role in Celtic mythology and iconography, compared to other European traditions. Gaulish examples appear copied from Roman models. In Irish and Welsh traditions the eagle is thought to be one of the oldest of animals; a Scottish Gaelic phrase describes it as sàr-eun [veritable bird]. Culhwch consults the ancient eagle of Gwernabwy in his search for Mabon. Several heroes, Fintan mac Bóchra, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Taliesin, and Tuan mac Cairill, take the form of an eagle, often in a series of transformations; the transformation into a salmon usually follows. In Irish folklore the hawk of Achill tricks an eagle by sending it on a fruitless errand while the hawk eats the eagle's chicks. The eagles of Snowdonia (W Eryri) in Welsh tradition were thought to be oracles of peace and war; flying high signalled victory, but flying low, crying incessantly, implied defeat for the Welsh. In later tradition the eagle may be associated with St John the Evangelist, with the sign of Scorpio in the zodiac, or with water as one of the four elements. In Irish and Scottish Gaelic folklore Adam and Eve are thought to be extant as eagles. See ERYR PENGWERN [The Eagle of Pengwern]. Modern Irish iolar; Scottish Gaelic iolaire; Manx urly; Welsh eryr; Cornish ēr; Breton erer.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: eagle
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eagle, common name for large predatory birds of the family Falconidae (hawk family), found in all parts of the world. Eagles are similar to the buteos, or buzzard hawks, but are larger both in length and in wingspread (up to 71/2 ft/228 cm) and have beaks nearly as long as their heads. They are solitary birds, said to mate for life. The nest, or aerie, of twigs and sticks is built at a vantage point high in a tree or on a cliff in a permanent feeding territory and is added to year after year, the refuse of the previous nests decomposing beneath the new additions. Nests can become enormous, measuring up to ten feet across and weighing well over 1,000 pounds. The eaglets (usually two) do not develop adult markings until their third year, when they leave parental protection and seek their own mates and territories.

The American bald (in the sense of white, as in piebald), or white-headed, eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus) is found in all parts of North America near water and feeds chiefly on dead fish (sometimes robbing the osprey's catch) and rodents. It is dark brown with white head, neck, and tail plumage. The northern species (found chiefly in Canada) is slightly larger than the southern, which ranges throughout the United States. With only 417 known breeding pairs in the 48 contiguous states in 1963, the bald eagle population was dwindling alarmingly; a decade later they were placed on the endangered species list. In one of the greatest success stories in species recovery, conservation methods such as the banning of DDT and the prohibition against eagle hunting had by the beginning of the 21st cent. increased the breeding population in the lower 48 states to some 5,000 pairs. In 1995 the bald eagle was removed from endangered status, and in 2007, when there were nearly 10,000 breeding pairs in the lower 48, it was removed from threatened status. The bald eagle (and golden eagle) continue to be protected by federal law.

The golden, or mountain, eagle (genus Aquila—whence aquiline, meaning eaglelike) is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, in the United States found mostly in the West. Unlike the bald eagle, it is an aggressive predator. In Asia it is trained to hunt small game (see falconry). The adult is sooty brown with tawny head and neck feathers; unlike those of the bald eagle, its legs are feathered to the toes. The gray and Steller's sea eagles (also in the genus Haliaetus) are native to colder areas of the Northern Hemisphere; the king or imperial eagle to S Europe and Asia; and the rare monkey-eating eagle to the Philippines. The harpy, or harpy eagle (Thrasyaetus harpyia), of Central and South America, the largest (38 in./95 cm long) of the hawks, eats macaws and sloths. It was named for the winged monsters of Greek myth and was called “winged wolf” by the Aztecs. New Zealand's extinct Haast's eagle, which had a 10-ft (3-m) wingspan and weighed 30% to 40% more than the harpy, was the top predator in the archipelago's ecosystem prior to the arrival of humans.

Eagles—impressive both in size and for their fearsome beauty—have long been symbols of royal power and have appeared on coins, seals, flags, and standards since ancient times. The eagle was the emblem of one of the Ptolemies of Egypt and was borne on the standards of the Roman armies and of Napoleon's troops. The American bald eagle became the national emblem of the United States by act of Congress in 1782. In folklore the eagle's ability to carry off prey, including children (e.g., the legend of Ganymede), has been exaggerated; even the powerful golden eagle can lift no more than 8 lb (3.6 kg).

Eagles are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Falconiformes, family Accipitridae.

 
Veterinary Dictionary: eagle
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Raptor bird of the families Falconidae and Accipitridae. Includes the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), tawny eagle (Aquila rapax) and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).

 
Word Tutor: eagle
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: Any of several large, powerful birds with sharp eyesight that prey on other birds and animals.

pronunciation The bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States.

 
Dream Symbol: Eagle
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Eagles fall under the larger meaning of birds, especially as spiritual symbols. Eagles are also associated with the sun, and thus have solar symbolism. A common mythological motif is an eagle in combat with an earthbound animal, which symbolizes the spirit or the mind (the eagle) struggling with more mundane needs or desires. Eagles are also traditionally associated with nobility (especially with kings) and authority, which in dreams can be a symbol for the father or for the animus. Other traits commonly associated with eagles include pride, fierceness, and courage.

 
Wikipedia: Eagle
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Eagle

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.)
Family: Accipitridae
Genera

Several, see text
This article is about the bird. For other uses, see Eagle (disambiguation).

Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa.[1] Outside this area, just two species (the Bald and Golden Eagles) can be found in the USA and Canada, nine more in Central and South America, and three in Australia.

Contents

Description

Eagles are differentiated from other birds of prey mainly by their larger size, more powerful build, and heavier head and bill. Even the smallest eagles, like the Booted Eagle (which is comparable in size to a Common Buzzard or Red-tailed Hawk), have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from the vultures. The species called eagle can range in size from the South Nicobar Serpent-eagle, at 500 grams (1.1 pounds) and 40 cm (16 in), to the 6.7-kg Steller's Sea-Eagle and the 100-cm (39 in) Philippine Eagle.

Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong muscular legs, and powerful talons claws. They also have extremely keen eyesight which enables them to spot potential prey from a very long distance.[2] This keen eyesight is primarily contributed by their extremely large pupils which ensure minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light.

Eagles build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched.

Species

Martial Eagle in Namibia
Thermographic image of an eagle, thermoregulating using its wings

Major new research into eagle taxonomy suggests that the important genera Aquila and Hieraaetus are not composed of nearest relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these genera will soon take place, with some species being moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus.[3]

FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE

A Steppe Eagle in Lahore Zoo Pakistan .
A dark individual of the Short-toed Eagle.

Eagles in culture

The word

The modern English name of the bird is derived from the Latin term aquila by way of the French Aigle. The Latin aquila may derive from the word aquilus, meaning dark-colored, swarthy, or blackish, as a description of the eagle's plumage; or from Aquilo, the Latin version of Greek Boreas, or north wind.

Old English used the term Earn, related to Scandinavia's Ørn / Örn. The etymology of this word is related to Greek ornis, literally meaning "bird". In this sense, the Eagle is the Bird with a capital B.

In Britain before 1678, Eagle referred specifically to the Golden Eagle, the other native species, the White-tailed Eagle, being known as the Erne. The modern name "Golden Eagle" for Aquila chrysaetos was introduced by the naturalist John Ray.

Eagles as national symbols

See also: Eagle (heraldry)

Coat of arms of Russia

Coat of arms of Germany. It dates back to the eagle as a symbol of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation (800-1806), the so called Reichsadler.

The Reichsadler symbol of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation and Imperial Germany (1871-1918).

This is the state emblem of Karnataka, India. The bird in the middle is the "Gandaberunda."

Double-headed eagle emblem of the Byzantine Empire. Relief from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Coat of arms of the town of Berg en Terblijt in the Netherlands, an example of the prolific use of the eagle in European heraldry

Coat of arms of Egypt

Napoleonic eagle

The Great Seal of the United States

Coat of arms of Serbia

Coat of arms of Poland

Eagles have been used by many nations as a national symbol.

Historic uses:

The eagle is the symbol used to depict John the Apostle in some Christian churches, whose writing most clearly witnesses the divinity of Christ. In art, John, as the writer of the Gospel, is sometimes depicted with an eagle. See Names of John.

The eagle is a sacred bird in some cultures and the feathers of the eagle are central to many religious and spiritual customs, especially amongst Native Americans in the United States and First Nations in Canada, as well as among many of the peoples of Meso-America. Some Native American peoples revere eagles as sacred religious objects and the feathers and parts of Bald and Golden Eagles are often compared to the Bible and crucifix. Eagle feathers are often used in various ceremonies and are used to honor noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery. In the cultures of the Northwest Coast, Eagle is also a supernatural being and also the ancestor and features in the heraldic crests of important clans known as totem poles.

The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped the animal and often depicted eagles in their art.[5]

Despite modern and historic Native American practices of giving eagle feathers to non-indigenous people and also members of other tribes who have been deemed worthy, current United States eagle feather law stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual reasons.[6] In Canada, poaching of eagle feathers for the booming U.S. market has sometimes resulted in the arrests of First Nations person for the crime.[7]

References

  1. ^ del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334156
  2. ^ Shlaer, Robert (1972-05-26). "An Eagle's Eye: Quality of the Retinal Image". Science 176 (4037): 920–922. doi:10.1126/science.176.4037.920. PMID 5033635. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/176/4037/920?ck=nck. Retrieved on 2007-11-20. 
  3. ^ Lerner, H. R. L.; D. P. Mindell (2005). "Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37 (37): 327–346. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010. 
  4. ^ Bunce, M.; et al. (2005). "Ancient DNA Provides New Insights into the Evolutionary History of New Zealand's Extinct Giant Eagle". PLoS Biol 3 (1): e9. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030009. http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.0030009. Retrieved on 2006-12-27. 
  5. ^ Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
  6. ^ Office of Law Enforcement. "National Eagle Repository". Mountain-Prairie Region. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/law/le65.html. Retrieved on 2007-11-20. 
  7. ^ Sin, Lena (2006-04-30). "Charges laid in eagle-poaching case". The Province (CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.). http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=7037508c-70c7-4c47-9d3e-713a118e6b66&k=55151. Retrieved on 2007-11-20. 

Further reading

  • Bruguier, Leonard.A Warrior's Eagle Feather
  • Collinson, Martin. Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306–323

External links

Search Wiktionary Look up eagle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Search Wikiquote Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Eagles

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
Translations: Eagle
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - ørn, ørnefigur, eagle, gulddollar
v. tr. - spille en golfbold 2 slag under par
v. intr. - score en eagle i golf

idioms:

  • eagle eye    falkeblik

Nederlands (Dutch)
adelaar, leger insigne, tien dollarmunt, golfscore

Français (French)
n. - (Zool) aigle, (Relig) aigle, (Hist, Mil) aigle, (Sport) eagle (golf), (US) pièce de 10 dollars (arch)
v. tr. - (Sport) faire un score avec deux coups (trou de golf)
v. intr. - (Sport) marquer un eagle (golf)

idioms:

  • eagle eye    ¯il de lynx

Deutsch (German)
n. - Adler
v. - (Golf) in zwei Schlägen unter dem Paar spielen, (Golf) einen Eagle schlagen

idioms:

  • eagle eye    Adlerauge

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ορνιθ., μτφ.) αϊτός

idioms:

  • eagle eye    άγρυπνο μάτι

Italiano (Italian)
aquila

idioms:

  • eagle eye    occhio di aquila

Português (Portuguese)
n. - águia (f) (Zool.), constelação (f) (Astron.)

idioms:

  • eagle eye    olho (m) de lince, vista (f) aguçada

Русский (Russian)
орел, 10-долларовая монета

idioms:

  • eagle eye    острое зрение

Español (Spanish)
n. - águila, figura o representación de un águila, usada como emblema, insignia utilizada por coroneles de la armada norteamericana, antigua moneda estadounidense, equivalente a 10 dólares, que mostraba un águila en una de sus caras
v. tr. - (golf) hacer un águila
v. intr. - (golf) hacer un águila

idioms:

  • eagle eye    vista de lince

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - örn

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
鹰, 鹰状标饰, 高尔夫中比规定少击两棒入洞

idioms:

  • eagle eye    鹰眼, 目光锐力

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鷹, 鷹狀標飾
v. tr. - 高爾夫中比規定少擊兩棒入洞
v. intr. -

idioms:

  • eagle eye    鷹眼, 目光銳力

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 독수리, 독수리를 그린 군기, 독수리좌
v. tr. - (골프) 이글로 마치다
v. intr. - (골프) 이글로 마치다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ワシ, ワシ印, イーグル

idioms:

  • eagle eye    鋭い眼力, 眼力の鋭い人

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) نسر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮נשר, עיט‬
v. tr. - ‮היכה כדור לחור בשתי מכות יותר מהמספר המקובל‬
v. intr. - ‮חבט כדור לחור בשתי חבטות פחות מהמקובל (גולף)‬

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Did you mean: eagle (bird), F-15C Eagle (weapon), Eagle; or, Dartmouth Centinel (author), Eagle (Native American mythology), Animals, James Philip Eagle, Maria Eagle More...


 

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
US Military Dictionary. The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. Copyright © 2001, 2002 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Architecture. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Celtic Mythology. A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Copyright © James MacKillop 1998, 2004. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
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eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; free trial.  Read more
Dream Symbol. The Dreams Encyclopedia. 1995 ©Visible Ink Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Eagle".  Read more
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