How many diploids do eagles have?

Answer 1

Birds have quite conserved chromosome numbers compared to other vertebrates. The typical diploid number (2n) is 80 chromosomes. Chicken, for example, has 78 chromosomes.

Of the avian species so far examined (~800 out of ~9600) about 63% have 2n=74 to 86, and a further 24% have 2n=66-74.

The lower extremes include the stone curlew and beach thick knee (2n=40), while the highest numbers are found in the Grey or Southern Go-away bird (2n=136-142; exact numbers are hard to find) and the common kingfisher (2n=132 or 138).