Migration routes and wintering areas of Booted Eagles Aquila pennata breeding in Spain

Abstract

Five Booted Eagles breeding in Spain were tracked by GPS during migration. Autumn routes were generally more eastern than spring routes, showing a typical loop migration. Birds covered on average ca. 200 km/day, and only one individual used a long-term stopover site (for up to 4 weeks). All but one used a single wintering area, located in Sub-Saharan Africa, at 2800–3500 km from their nests. Eagles were forced to stop migration at the Strait of Gibraltar for up to 6 days.