Verreaux's Eagle
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| Aquila verreauxii Lesson, 1830 |
Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii), also known as the African Black Eagle or Black Eagle. It is a large bird of prey. This eagle is a resident breeder throughout Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, and can usually be found in mountainous regions.
It is about 75 to 95 cm in length, weighs 4 to 5 kg and has a wingspan of up to 2.5 m. It is generally black in colour with a distinct white V marking on its back. Juveniles are usually light and dark brown in colour with a black face.
It is highly territorial and can often be seen with another Verreaux's Eagle, with whom it mates for life. The pair will lay two creamy white eggs, four days apart in autumn, and these will hatch approximately 45 days later.
It is a specialist hunter with hyraxes (or dassies) making up most of its diet. The size of its territory often inversely reflects the size of the local hyrax population.
The name commemorates the French naturalist Edouard Verreaux.
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Aquila verreauxii. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
