widely accepted identification feature of Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis is that the gape-line extends to a point level with, or even beyond, the rear edge of the eye (e.g. Cramp & Simmons 1980, Brown et al. 1982, Newman 1984, Porter et al. 1996, Beaman & Madge 1998, Svensson et al. 1999, Robson 2000, Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001). In particular, this long gape-line is proffered as a useful field character to distinguish Steppe Eagle from Tawny Eagle A. rapax and, in fact, is unique among the Aquila eagles (Cramp 1980; Porter et al. 1996). A typical reference in descriptions of Steppe Eagle suggests that `adults are large, dark brown eagles with prominent, orange-yellow gapes which extend back to a point level with the back of the eyes...' (Newman 1984). Both Sinclair et al. (1993) and Ferguson-Lees & Christie (2001) included an illustration comparing the relative length of the gape-line of Steppe and Tawny Eagles. The feature is not,however, universally recognised. Forsman (1999) was more circumspect, and stated that `the gape is fleshy and yellow and reaches the centre of the eye or even beyond it'. Moreover, Sinclair et al. (1993) differentiated between the two races of Steppe Eagle: `the yellow gape is long and extends behind the eye in the race A. n. nipalensis, whereas the gape of the race A. n. orientalis extends behind the middle of the eye, but not to the back of the eye'. Shirihai (1996) corroborated this analysis of the length of the gape-lines of the