Quaternary Records of Eagles (Accipitriformes: Aquilinae) and Falcons (Falconiformes: Falconidae) in Bulgaria

In the Quaternary of Bulgaria, 15 species of accipitrid eagles and falcons have been found at a total of 40 localities. They make up 83.3 % of the composition of the modern fauna of the two groups in the country. Three species (two species of eagles and one falcon) are extinct (fossil), meaning that one fifth of their Quaternary fauna is gone today. The most widespread in the past were the golden eagle and the common kestrel. The most diverse species composition (6 species) was found in the Neolithic-Chalcolithic site near Durankulak (Bulgarian Black Sea coast). In Bulgaria, accipitrid eagles and falcons are found most often in sites between 100 and 400 m above sea level.