Behind the Story
About Bonelli’s Eagle
The Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) is the only species of eagle indigenous to Cyprus. It is a large bird of prey, belonging to the Accipitridae family, and one of the most significant birds of Cyprus avifauna. The sprawling Pafos Forest, one of the last untouched wildlife havens in Cyprus, is the primary home and breeding site for this species in Cyprus.
The Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) is the only species of eagle indigenous to Cyprus. The common name of the bird commemorates the Italian ornithologist and collector, Franco Andrea Bonelli.
It is a large bird of prey, belonging to the Accipitridae family, and one of the most significant birds of Cyprus avifauna. It typically breeds in southern Europe, Africa, both north and south of the Sahara Desert, and across the Middle East and South Asia. It is usually a resident breeder, which lays 1–3 eggs in a tree or crag nest.
The Bonelli’s Eagle is found in wooded, often hilly, terrain with some open areas. That is why the Pafos Forest, is the primary home and breeding site for this species in Cyprus.
Bonelli’s Eagles will foster orphaned chicks of the same species in an empty nest; a trait that demonstrates they are equal parts nurturing and predatory.​
Engraving by: Paschalis Dougalis – BirdLife Cyprus
