Daggett's Eagle
Encyclopedia
The Daggett's eagle is actually a rather long-legged species of hawk
. It probably resembled the modern day savanna hawk
with long legs. Many scientists think that these legs evolved because it caught snakes and reptiles, so it could keep its distance, similar to the secretary bird
of Africa. However, these hawks were not found in Africa, but instead in the La Brea
and Carpinteria in southern California, and in Nuevo Leon
in Mexico.
It is thought that the females of this species were quite larger than the males, based on the size of fossils, and the "she" Daggett's eagles were larger. The savanna hawk is attracted to fire, whereas smaller species flee, and it is thought that Daggett's eagle might have had a similar behavior.
Daggett's eagles became extinct about 13,000 years ago, in the Pleistocene
epoch.
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
. It probably resembled the modern day savanna hawk
Savanna Hawk
The Savanna Hawk is a large raptor found in open savanna and swamp edges. It was formerly placed in the genus Heterospizias. It breeds from Panama and Trinidad south to Bolivia, Uruguay and central Argentina....
with long legs. Many scientists think that these legs evolved because it caught snakes and reptiles, so it could keep its distance, similar to the secretary bird
Secretary Bird
The Secretarybird or Secretary Bird is a large, mostly terrestrial bird of prey. Endemic to Africa, it is usually found in the open grasslands and savannah of the sub-Sahara...
of Africa. However, these hawks were not found in Africa, but instead in the La Brea
La Brea
La Brea is Spanish for "the tar" or "the tar pits") and may refer to:* La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California* La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago, home to the Pitch Lake* La Brea District in Peru...
and Carpinteria in southern California, and in Nuevo Leon
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
in Mexico.
It is thought that the females of this species were quite larger than the males, based on the size of fossils, and the "she" Daggett's eagles were larger. The savanna hawk is attracted to fire, whereas smaller species flee, and it is thought that Daggett's eagle might have had a similar behavior.
Daggett's eagles became extinct about 13,000 years ago, in the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
epoch.