European Eagles
If you’re wondering: are there eagles in Europe, then the answer is yes – absolutely!
There are currently 10 types of eagles breeding in Europe. Out of these 10 European eagle species, 6 belong to the genus Aquila, 2 belong to the genus Clanga, 1 belongs to the genus Haliaeetus, and 1 belongs to the genus Circaetus.
Most European eagle types are medium-sized to very large birds of prey, with the largest species (the White-tailed Eagle) reaching a wingspan of 2.5 meters. The only European raptors bigger than this are large vulture species.
We’ve also included the osprey in this category, although it is not really an eagle. The osprey belongs to a taxonomically distinct grouping of the Accipitridae, but for the sake of convenience we have included it in the same category as the eagles of Europe.
Are there bald eagles in Europe?
No, there are no bald eagles in Europe, since these are breeding birds of North America, where they only occur in the United States and Canada. In a few rare cases, bald eagles that have escaped from captivity have been observed in Europe.
With that being said, the bald eagle is a close relative of the white-tailed eagle, which is a regular breeding bird across northern Europe. This eagle in Europe has a similar size and overall appearance to the bald eagle (though it lacks the white plumage on the head of adult bald eagles).
