Greater Spotted Eagle

The greater spotted eagle is rather large and compact, normally black-brown with a contrasting yellow beak. It has a short neck with a large, often shaggy-naped head, a strong beak, and a short gape-line with round nostrils. The wings are broad and long, reaching the tail tip, and the tail is relatively short and rounded, so that the broad wings and short tail can give an almost vulture-like silhouette. The feet are large, and the feathers covering the legs are less compactly arranged than on the lesser spotted eagles. It tends to perch in the open. (Wikipedia, general species account)

A large migratory bird of prey in the booted-eagle subfamily, it was once classified in the genus Aquila but has been reclassified into the distinct genus Clanga along with the two other spotted eagles. During the breeding season it is widely distributed across Eastern Europe, parts of Central Europe, central Russia, central Asia and parts of China, along with other isolated areas. (Wikipedia, general species account)