68 Types of Eagles (4 Groups) Complete Guide to All Species
How many eagle species can you name? If you have lived in North America (like myself), perhaps the bald eagle comes to mind. In this post, you’ll learn about all 68 species of eagles found around the world.
They are organized into four different groups from two subfamilies and 23 genera. Learn about where they’re from and their population status.
Guide to 68 Types of Eagles
How many species of eagles are there?
There are 23 genera of eagles, subdivided into 68 different species of eagles.
For more information on each of these species, please keep reading.
4 Different Groups of Eagles
You will often see eagles divided into 4 different groups. These groups are informal and not part of the official classification system.
These group classifications are also not exclusive- so just because an eagle has been put into the “Snake Eagle” category, that doesn’t mean it won’t eat the occasional fish.
Along the same lines, “Fish Eagles” or Sea Eagles” may also be found further inland.
Subfamily Circaetinae
1. Snake Eagles or Serpent Eagles
- Family: Accipitridae
- Subfamily: Circaetinae
- Genera: Circaetus, Dryotriorchis, Eutriorchis, Spilornis, and Terathopius
These eagles are pros when it comes to catching snakes and other reptiles.
They often make their homes in deserts or forested areas where this prey is abundant.
Subfamily Buteoninae
Some researchers classify all of the rest of the eagles under the subfamily Buteoninae. Others propose that this large subfamily should actually be broken into 3 smaller subfamilies.
These 3 proposed subfamilies are the following:
2. Fish Eagles or Sea Eagles
- Family: Accipitridae
- Proposed Subfamily: Haliaeetinae
- Genera: Haliaeetus, and Icthyophaga
As indicated by their name, eagles in this category are excellent fishers. You will often find them in coastal areas, although some can be found further inland.
3. Booted Eagles, Hawk-Eagles, and Buzzard-Eagles
- Family: Accipitridae
- Proposed Subfamily: Aquililae
- Genera: Aquila, Geranoaetus, Hieraaetus, Ictinaetus, Lophoaetus, Lophotriorchis, Nisaetus, Polemaetus, Spizaetus, and Stephanoaetus
- Other Genera: Clanga
This group is also referred to as “true eagles.” Eagles in this group have feathers on their lower legs ending at their feet.
4. Harpy Eagles
- Family: Accipitridae
- Proposed Subfamily: Harpiinae
- Genera: Harpia, Harpyosis, and Morphnus
- Other Genera: Buteogallus, and Pithecaphaga
Harpy eagles are giant, forest-dwelling eagles. The eagles placed in this group vary, depending on who you ask.
68 Eagle Species (within 23 genera)
There are currently 68 different species of eagles. The classifications below are up to date at time of publishing, including changes made within the last few years.
As a disclaimer, new research has shown that some eagle species once placed into the same subfamilies are not as closely related as once thought. As a result, there may be a major reclassification of the eagle subfamilies and genera at some point.
For example, Bonelli’s Eagle used to be in the Hieraaetus genus. It has since been moved to the Aquila genus.
Genus: Aquila (11 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| African Hawk-Eagle | Aquila spilogaster | Africa | Least Concern |
| Bonelli’s Eagle | Aquila fasciata | Europe, Asia, and Africa | Near Threatened |
| Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle | Aquila africana | Africa | Least Concern |
| Eastern Imperial Eagle | Aquila heliaca | Europe, Asia, and Africa | Vulnerable |
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa | Least Concern |
| Gurney’s Eagle | Aquila gurneyi | Asia, and Oceania (Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea) | Near Threatened |
| Spanish Imperial Eagle | Aquila adalberti | Europe (Spain, and Portugal) | Vulnerable |
| Steppe Eagle | Aquila nipalensis | Europe, Asia, and Africa | Critically Endangered |
| Tawny Eagle | Aquila rapax | Asia, and Africa | Vulnerable |
| Verreaux’s Eagle | Aquila verreauxii | Asia, and Africa | Least Concern |
| Wedge-Tailed Eagle | Aquila audax | Oceania (Australia) | Least Concern |
Genus: Buteogallus (2 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Black Solitary Eagle | Buteogallus solitarius | Central and South America | Near Threatened |
| Crowned Solitary Eagle | Buteogallus coronatus | South America | Endangered |
Genus: Circaetus (6 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Beaudouins’s Snake-Eagle | Circaetus beaudouini | Africa | Vulnerable |
| Black-Chested Snake-Eagle | Circaetus pectoralis | Africa | Least Concern |
| Brown Snake-Eagle | Circaetus cinereus | Africa | Least Concern |
| Short-Toed Snake-Eagle | Circaetus gallicus | Europe, Asia, and Africa | Least Concern |
| Southern Banded Snake-Eagle | Circaetus fasciolatus | Africa | Near Threatened |
| Western Banded Snake-Eagle | Circaetus cinerascens | Africa | Least Concern |
Genus: Clanga (3 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Greater Spotted Eagle | Clanga clanga | Europe, Asia, and Africa | Vulnerable |
| Indian Spotted Eagle | Clanga hastata | Asia | Vulnerable |
| Lesser Spotted Eagle | Clanga pomarina | Europe, and Africa | Least Concern |
Genus: Dryotriorchis (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Congo Serpent-Eagle | Dryotriorchis spectabilis | Africa | Least Concern |
Genus: Eutriorchis (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Madagascar Serpent-Eagle | Eutriorchis astur | Africa (Madagascar) | Endangered |
Genus: Geranoaetus (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Black-Chested Buzzard-Eagle | Geranoaetus melanoleucus | South America | Least Concern |
Genus: Haliaeetus (8 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| African Fish-Eagle | Haliaeetus vocifer | Africa | Least Concern |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus Ieucocephaus | North America | Least Concern |
| Madagascar Fish-Eagle | Haliaeetus vociferoides | Africa (Madagascar) | Critically Endangered |
| Pallas’s Fish-Eagle | Haliaeetus leucoryphus | Asia | Endangered |
| Sanford’s Sea-Eagle | Haliaeetus sanfordi | Oceania (Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands) | Vulnerable |
| Steller’s Sea-Eagle | Haliaeetus pelagicus | Asia | Vulnerable |
| White-Bellied Sea-Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | Asia, and Oceania | Least Concern |
| White-Tailed Sea-Eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | Europe, and Asia | Least Concern |
Genus: Harpia (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Harpy Eagle | Harpia harpyja | Central and South America | Near Threatened |
Genus: Harpyopsis (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Papuan Eagle | Harpyopsis novaeguineae | Asia, and Oceania (Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea) | Vulnerable |
Genus: Hieraaetus (5 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle | Hieraaetus ayresii | Africa | Least Concern |
| Booted Eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus | Europe, Asia, and Africa | Least Concern |
| Little Eagle | Hieraaetus morphnoides | Oceania (Austrailia) | Least Concern |
| Pygmy Eagle | Hieraaetus weiskei | Asia, and Oceania (Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea) | Least Concern |
| Wahlberg’s Eagle | Hieraaetus wahlbergi | Africa | Least Concern |
Genus: Icthyophaga (2 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Grey-Headed Fish-Eagle | Icthyophaga ichthyaetus | Asia | Near Threatened |
| Lesser Fish-Eagle | Icthyophaga humilis | Asia | Near Threatened |
Genus: Ictinaetus (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Black Eagle | Ictinaetus malaiensis | Asia | Least Concern |
Genus: Lophaetus (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Long-Crested Eagle | Lophaetus occipitalis | Africa | Least Concern |
Genus: Lophotriorchis (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Rufous-Bellied Eagle | Lophotriorchis kienerii | Asia | Near Threatened |
Genus: Morphnus (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Crested Eagle | Morphnus guianensis | Central and South America | Near Threatened |
Genus: Nisaetus (9 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus alboniger | Asia | Least Concern |
| Changeable Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus cirrhatus | Asia | Least Concern |
| Flores Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus floris | Asia (Indonesia) | Critically Endangered |
| Javan Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus bartelsi | Asia (Indonesia) | Endangered |
| Mountain Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus nipalensis | Asia | Least Concern |
| North Philippine Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus philippensis | Asia (Northern Philippines) | Endangered |
| South Philippine Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus pinskeri | Asia (Southern Philippines) | Endangered |
| Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus lanceolatus | Asia (Indonesia) | Least Concern |
| Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus nanus | Asia | Vulnerable |
Genus: Pithecophaga (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Philippine Eagle | Pithecophaga jefferyi | Asia (the Philippines) | Critically Endangered |
Genus: Polemaetus (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Martial Eagle | Polemaetus bellicosus | Africa | Endangered |
Genus: Spilornis (5 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Andaman Serpent-Eagle | Spilornis elgini | Asia (Andaman Islands, India) | Vulnerable |
| Crested Serpent-Eagle | Spilornis cheela | Asia | Least Concern |
| Great Nicobar Serpent-Eagle | Spilornis klossi | Asia (Nicobar Island, India) | Near Threatened |
| Kinabalu Serpent-Eagle | Spilornis kinabaluensis | Asia | Vulnerable |
| Philippine Serpent-Eagle | Spilornis holospilus | Asia (the Philippines) | Least Concern |
Genus: Spizaetus (4 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Black Hawk-Eagle | Spizaetus tyrannus | Central and South America | Least Concern |
| Black-and-Chestnut Eagle | Spizaetus isidori | South America | Endangered |
| Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle | Spizaetus melanoleucus | Central and South America | Least Concern |
| Ornate Hawk-Eagle | Spizaetus ornatus | Central and South America | Near Threatened |
Genus: Stephanoaetus (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Crowned Eagle | Stephanoaetus coronatus | Africa | Near Threatened |
Genus: Terathopius (1 species)
| Eagle | Scientific Name | Location | Population Status |
| Bateleur | Terathopius ecaudatus | Africa | Endangered |
Love watching birds? Check out our guide to the best compact binoculars for hikers and birders.
Common Questions About Eagles
Here are the answers to common questions about eagles.
What is an eagle?
Eagles are large and powerful birds of prey. They have hooked beaks, strong legs, and sharp talons.
They are in the scientific family “Accipitridae.”
Are hawks a type of eagle?
No, hawks are not a type of eagle. While a few of the species of eagles are called “Hawk-Eagles,” eagles and hawks are not the same. Eagles are generally larger, and stronger- and therefore feed on larger prey animals.
Eagles are also larger than falcons.
Where can they be found?
Eagles can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. You can see the location of each of the species in the tables above.
What is the biggest eagle?
- Based on Weight: Steller’s Sea-Eagle, 14.75 pounds (6.7 kilograms)
- Based on Total Length: Philippine Eagle, 3 feet 3 inches (100 centimeters)
- Based on Wingspan: White-Tailed Sea-Eagle 7 feet 2 inches (218.5 centimeters)
Learn more about the largest eagles in the world.
What is the smallest eagle?
The smallest eagle is the Great Nicobar Serpent-Eagle. It weighs 1 pound (450 grams) and has a body length of 15.7 inches (40 centimeters).
Are eagles endangered?
Here are how the 68 eagles rank on the IUCN Red List:
- Least Concern: 31 species
- Near Threatened: 12 species
- Vulnerable: 12 species
- Endangered: 9 species
- Critically Endangered: 4 species
Did you know? Eagles mate for life. Learn about 28 other animals that also mate for life.
More reading: Guide to Birds of Uganda and 8 Top Birding Sites
Squirrels are a favorite food of eagles around the world. Do squirrels eat meat?
Your Turn
Do you have a question about a specific eagle? Or perhaps you have an eagle-related story to share. Tell me about it in the comments below.
I was out for a bike ride on a beautiful gorgeous day in Defiance, Ohio, USA. As I was riding I came across a bird sitting there on the side of the road enjoying its lunch. As I got closer it spread it’s wings and took off. What an amazing sight. A Bald Eagle!! So I did a quick turn around and went back but not too close, again the amazing beautiful bird flew away. So I sat there in dead silence and just as I was about to give up on it returning to finish it’s meal a shadow blanketed the ground and it returned to dine. It took a couple good bites looked at me spread it’s wings and took off. Only this time it took it’s meal with it and went to the middle of a field to be hidden and enjoy it’s lunch. Gotta say, definitely a highlight of my day, and feel blessed to have seen it.