At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Increasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Spanish imperial eagle is a large eagle found only on the Iberian Peninsula. It is assessed as Vulnerable, recovering from a very low point.
It depends heavily on rabbits as prey.
Range & habitat
The Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Electrocution on power lines
- Poisoning
- Past loss of its rabbit prey
Why it matters
An Iberian endemic eagle recovering through dedicated protection, the Spanish imperial eagle is a flagship for Mediterranean ecosystems and safe power lines.
Sources
Sources for Spanish Imperial Eagle
- IUCN Red List — look up Spanish Imperial Eagle (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Spanish imperial eagle depend on for food?
It relies heavily on the European rabbit, so crashes in rabbit numbers (from disease) have historically hit the eagle hard.
Why is the Spanish imperial eagle still Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite electrocution on power lines, poisoning, and past prey loss, even as targeted protection has helped numbers recover. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: