Long-crested Eagle

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iLong-crested Eagle
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Lophaetus
Kaup, 1847
Species: L. occipitalis
Binomial name
Lophaetus occipitalis
(Daudin, 1800)

The Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) is a bird of prey. Like all eagles, it is in the family Accipitridae. It is currently placed in a monotypic genus Lophaetus, which seems closely related to the Black Eagle and might be a junior synonym of Ictinaetus[citation needed]. The three species of spotted eagles, currently in Aquila, seem to be the closest living relatives of the present species and should also be placed in Lophaetus or Ictinaetus[citation needed].

A medium sized bird (about 55cm), found in Africa south of the Sahara, except in the arid zones. In southern Africa it is a fairly common resident in the eastern areas. It inhabits woodlands, exotic plantations, forest edges and mainly lives off rodents and shrews.

[edit] References

  • BirdLife International (2004). Lophaetus occipitalis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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