Regal Eagles Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aquila

In pre-1678 England, the word eagle was specific to the golden eagle. The white-tailed eagle was known as an erne until the golden was renamed aquila chrysaetos by naturalist John Ray.

Answer: Stoop

Eagles utilize this technique, however here they are not the king. The peregrine falcon has been recorded stooping at over 200 miles per hour. Eagles are helped in hunting by their eyes, which have two focal areas allowing them to see things ahead and to the side.

Answer: Left

Almost all eagle images face left, with left and right also seen frequently. Almost never do they face right only, and I have never seen any looking up or down.

Answer: Philippine Eagle

Over three feet tall with a wingspan of six-and-a-half feet, and weighing in the 18 to 20 pound range, is the eagle also known as the monkey eating eagle. It is an endangered species. Harpy eagles have been reported as being physically larger, but do not outweigh the Philippine eagle. The all-time largest Haast eagle is extinct.

Answer: Thinning of shells

Rachel Carson's book 'Silent Spring' served notice in 1962 about the dangers of DDT. It was actually synthesized in 1874, but it was only in 1939 that it was recognized as an effective insect control. Eagles and other raptors have made great recoveries in population since the ban.

Answer: Feathers

There is a $25,000 fine for violation of this statute in the US. Only certified members of certain Native American ancestry tribes may legally deal in eagle feathers or other parts. This has created some poaching issues in Canada because of the demand. I wonder if I can pick up a fallen feather if I stumble across one?

Answer: Raptors

Eagles are raptors. They comprise more than sixty species throughout the world. Most are found in Eurasia or Africa. North America and Britain both have only two species. Modern science says birds are descended from dinosaurs, hence the raptor connection.

Answer: False

Eagles have a body structure called procoracoid foramen, specialized shoulder structures. Goshawks and sparrowhawks are the raptor species missing the procoracoid foramen and thus are classified as accipiters. I still hear eagles wrongly referred to as accipiters simply they belong to this family.

Answer: Aeries

"Eyries" is the Middle English spelling based on a wrong connection of "ey" as egg in that time. The more modern spelling is "aeries". Most large eagles build huge nests. A bald eagle nest in Florida was found that measured over 18 feet deep, over nine feet wide, and weighed nearly three tons.

Answer: Eaglets

Eagles are commonly born in groups up to three. The strongest eaglet often kills the weaker siblings. Eagles are generally fliers around two months of age.