Roger Powell / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) perched on a rock and stretching its wings, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Close-up of the feathers of a Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain

Juan Carlos Munoz / Close-up of the talons of a Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) stooping to catch a lizard. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) perching on a rock. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) in flight. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) portrait, Spain Captive

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) perched on branch, East Slovakia, Europe, June 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Imperial Eagle flying to the mountains east of Kosice, Slanske vrchy, Eastern Slovakia, Europe, June 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in flight, East Slovakia, Europe, June 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in flight, East Slovakia, Europe, June 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) at nest with young, East Slovakia, Europe, June 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Two Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) chicks in the nest, East Slovakia, Europe, June 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Wothe / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) carrying Hare prey in flight, East Slovakia, Europe, June 2008

Staffan Widstrand / Iberian or Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) eating a rabbit put out for it at a wildlife watching hide near El Barraco, Gredos Mountains, Avila, Spain.

Staffan Widstrand / Iberian or Spanish Imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) eating a rabbit put out for it at a wildlife watching hide near El Barraco, Gredos Mountains, Avila, Spain

Oscar Diez/ BIA / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) flying, Andalucia, Spain

David Tipling / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) adult male approx 8 yrs old in Sierra San Pedro, Extremadura, Spain. December

Chris Gomersall / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) sub-adult in flight. Hula Valley, Israel. November.

Chris Gomersall / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) sub-adult in flight. Hula Valley, Israel. November.

Francisco Marquez / Female Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) with two chicks in nest, Castilla La Mancha, Spain, June.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) juvenile in flight, Oman, February.

Martin Gabriel / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca), juvenile in flight, Salalah, Sultanate of Oman, February.

Luke Massey / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), Extremadura, Spain October.

Luke Massey / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), Extremadura, Spain October.

Luke Massey / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), Extremadura, Spain October.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) 1cy in flight, Oman, November

Pascal Kobeh / Divers on the Imperial Eagle wreck, a ferry crossing between Malta and Gozo Island that sunk in 1999 in Qawra Point as an artificial reef, Malta, Mediterranean

Pascal Kobeh / Divers by steering wheel of the Imperial Eagle wreck, a ferry sunk in 1999 in Qawra Point as an artificial reef, Malta, Mediterranean Sea. June 2014.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) juvenile along with two Steppe eagles (Aquila nipalensis) on hillside, Oman, February.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) juvenile, Oman, November.

Markus Varesvuo / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) juvenile flying low, Hungary January

Mathias Schaef / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) flying, Oman

Markus Varesvuo / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in flight. Oman. November

Markus Varesvuo / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in flight. Oman. Digitally altered - Sky modified. November

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick stretching wings at nest in pine tree, near Jaen, Andujar, Sierra Morena, Andalucia, Spain.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick stretching wings at nest, near Jaen, Andujar, Sierra Morena, Spain.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick stretching wings at nest, near Jaen, Andujar, Sierra Morena, Spain.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) immature in flight, Oman, November

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) immature in flight, Oman, November

Oscar Diez / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) female with prey, Spain

Ralph Martin / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Oman

Ralph Martin / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Oman

Marion Vollborn / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti), Castile-La Mancha, Spain

Christine Jung / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Salalah, Oman

Christine Jung / Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), Salalah, Oman

Roger Powell / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) perched on a rock, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, April.

Markus Varesvuo / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in flight, Oman.

Bence Mate / Portrait of Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in rain, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary

Fabrice Cahez / Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) (bottom) and Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) (top) in flight. Extramadura, Spain, May.

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) adult in flight, Oman, January

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) flying low over ground, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in a tree, calling and preparing to take off, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) walking along branch in a tree, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) flying low over ground, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) in flight, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) flying low over ground, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) perched in a tree, calling and preparing to take off, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) perched in a tree, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Kerstin Hinze / Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) on ground, Marchauen, Lower Austria, Austria, controlled conditions

Roland Seitre / Landscape of Sierra Morena, habitat of the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Andujar, Andalusia, Spain, January 2007.

Roland Seitre / Wooded landscape of Sierra Morena, habitat of the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Andujar, Andalusia, Spain, January 2007.

Roland Seitre / Biologist Sandra Moreno tracking radio-tagged Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Cadix, Spain, January 2007.

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Apparatus set up for the release of Spanish Imperial Eagles (Aquila adalberti). Chicks use the artificial nest and food is delivered through the tubes to minimise human contact. Cadix, Sandra Moreno,...

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick being tended by conservationist Luis Alcaide Reinoso at the Imperial Eagle breeding station. Andalusia, June 2006.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chicks with conservationist Luis Alcaide Reinoso at the Imperial Eagle breeding station. Andalusia, June 2006.

Roland Seitre / Young Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick in white down, at the Andalusia eagle rearing centre. June 2006.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chicks on the nest. Breeding group being observed for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick exercising wings on the nest. Breeding group being observed for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick exercising wings on the nest. Breeding group being observed for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick on the nest. Breeding group being observed for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick exercising wings on the nest. Breeding group being monitored for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) chick exercising wings on the nest. Breeding group being observed for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) adult taking flights from chick on nest. Breeding group being monitored for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) adult and chick on nest. Breeding group being monitored for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Roland Seitre / Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) adult and chick on nest. Breeding group being monitored for the Andalusian conservation project. Sierra Morena, Andujar, Spain, June 2008.

Juan Carlos Munoz / Close-up of the talons of a Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) flying near the ground. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) calling. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) catching a lizard. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) swallowing a lizard it has just caught. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) catching a lizard. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) catching a lizard. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) flying near the ground. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) in flight. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) feeding on a lizard it has just caught. Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, Captive

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) at nest in tree, Spain, July

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) at nest in tree, Spain, July

Juan Carlos Munoz / Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) perched in tree, Spain, May 2009 Captive