Fauna and flora in Slovakia – the eastern imperial eagle

€5 base metal collector coin

The majestic king of the plains—the eastern imperial eagle—is the rarest species of eagle found in Slovakia. Although the name ‘imperial’ suggests exceptional size, it is not the largest eagle in the country. It is rather the eagle’s origin that is unique, as it started spreading here from the southern European steppe in the mid-20th century. It is distinguished from other eagles mainly by two prominent white spots on its wings. The eagles usually build their nests in tall trees, and the female lays one to three eggs. The eaglets hatch after 43 to 45 days and emerge from the nest 70 to 75 days after hatching. Initially, only the male provides food for the chicks, but as they grow larger, the female also contributes. The eagle preys mainly on small rodents, young hares, pheasants, partridges, and members of the crow family. In Slovakia, where there are only around 100 nesting pairs, the eastern imperial eagle is a protected species, and the country is therefore important in terms of efforts to conserve the species in Europe.