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Tawny Eagle Made North Africa’s First Documented Breeding Attempt in Decades

Tawny eagle perched on a dead tree against a blue sky
Conservation · Population & status

A pair of tawny eagles (Aquila rapax belisarius) occupied a nest in north-western Algeria on 7 February 2025. A field note published in April 2026 describes this as the first documented breeding attempt by the species in Algeria and North Africa in recent decades. Tawny eagles were once much more widespread across North Africa, but disappeared from most of their former Algerian breeding range by the late twentieth century, giving the new attempt particular significance as a possible sign of recolonisation.

The nest was about 25 metres above the ground in the crown of a tall Aleppo pine in Zid El Moumen forest near Mérine. Common ravens were recorded harassing the pair. Follow-up visits showed that the breeding attempt was unsuccessful.

Several pressures may have affected the breeding attempt

The authors identify several possible pressures rather than a confirmed single cause. These include track construction near the nest, agricultural activity less than one kilometre away, numerous common ravens and the deterioration of Aleppo pine forest after prolonged drought. Pine dieback can reduce the availability of vigorous trees capable of supporting nests in their crowns.

Several eagles were recorded in the wider area

Records from several localities in Sidi Bel Abbès province between 2018 and 2025 indicate that more than one tawny eagle was present in the area. The authors suggest that the growing number of observations may represent gradual recolonisation and a possible return of breeding. Wildfires may also have turned dense pine forest into more open wooded scrub that is potentially favourable to the species.

The paper notes that no specific protection or habitat-rehabilitation programme had been introduced for the local population, although tawny eagle is protected by Algerian law. The authors regard the failed attempt as an encouraging sign, but link the prospect of successful breeding to appropriate management and protection.

Sources and image credit

  1. El Bouhissi, M., Soukkou, W., & Khacheb, Z. (2026). Breeding attempt of Tawny Eagle at Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, in February 2025 and recent increase of records in northern Algeria. Dutch Birding, 48(2), 115–118.

Image: Christoph Strässler — tawny eagle in Seronera Valley, Tanzania, 7 November 2016. Representative species photograph; not the pair in Algeria. Source: Wikimedia Commons. · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source

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