This is a first: an imperial eagle has been seen in Belgium!

An imperial eagle was observed on April 12 above Heule (Kortrijk), West Flanders. This is a first, this raptor has never been seen so far in Belgium, according to the Natuurpunt association which relays the observations of an inhabitant on Monday.

The person who reported the raptor was able to observe it from their backyard as the animal flew in from the southwest. Some photos confirmed that it was an imperial eagle, says Dominique Verbelen of Natuurpunt. The imperial eagle, which has a wingspan of 175 to 205 centimeters, is a large eagle that is normally only found in Europe in the south-east. If this observation were to be accepted by the Rare Birds Approval Commission, it would be the 456th species of birds to be observed in our country.