BIERMAN WH (1964) First record of the Imperial Eagle in the Netherlands. LIMOSA 37 (3): 264-276.

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos A description is given of an eagle observed near Ommen, Province of Overijssel, in the Netherlands by a considerable number of reliable field ornithologists between 11 January and 4 March, 1963. In flight this bird could be compared to Hooded Crows and Common Buzzards, the wing span thus proving to be more than 6 ft. 8 in. The broad wings, perfectly horizontal in flight, the short and square tail, the measurement of an impression of its claws in the snow, only slightly more than 7 in. in length, and the peculiar call, resembling a Raven's croak, made it possible to exclude both the Golden and the White-tailed Eagle. The general colouring was a mottled lighter and darker brown, with under parts distinctly striped by lighter and darker spots, the rump appearing slightly lighter in colour.. No light patch could be seen in the wing, but the under side of the wing was marked by a conspicuous light longitudinal stripe. The tarsus was seen to be feathered. The bird could be watched sitting in trees for hours on end, flying away reluctantly with slow and heavy wing beats. It was observed to feed on carrion only. Couriously enough the eagle, obviously the same individual, returned to exactly the same place in the next autumn, being observed from 6 November to 8 December, 1963, and once more on 28 February 1964. By then the neck and the back of the bird were a distinctly lighter creamy colour. The conclusion seems justified that this bird was a juvenile Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca heliaca), a species new to the Dutch list.

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