64. Imperial Еagle

The Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca, is one of the largest eagles in Bulgaria, with a slightly smaller size than the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). Body dimensions range from 72 to 100 cm, and the wingspan is between 190 and 267 cm. The Imperial Eagle is spread from Central and Southeast Europe to Central Asia. In the winter it migrates to the Middle East and East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, and South and East Asia. These beautiful birds are critically endangered from extinction. There are many threats to their survival, such as disturbance, shooting, poisoning, fires, intensive agriculture, and a reduction in the number of the European ground squirrel. The ground squirrel is an important part of the Imperial Eagle's food spectrum in Central and Southeast Europe. Although eagles can switch to other victims, the lack of high-density prey can be a cause of low breeding success.