Egypt's national animal is the steppe eagle. Eagles were an important symbol in ancient Egypt, with temples often decorated with them. In particular the steppe eagle was a prized bird of the first Sultan of Egypt, Saladin and therefore often known as the Saladin Eagle.
The steppe eagle lives across Europe, Asia, and Africa and is considered to be quite an unusual type of eagle as they nest on the ground. Because they live in treeless habitats, rather than nesting high up in trees like many other eagles do, they are obligated to lay their eggs on the ground.
They may choose a slight rise for their nest, but it is often open flat grasslands, which leave eggs and chicks are quite vulnerable to fires, pests, and trampling from livestock. Partly due to these threats these eagles are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List
The steppe eagle is also the national bird of Kazakhstan
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