Verreaux's Eagle

Taxobox
name = Verreaux's Eagle
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Falconiformes
familia = Accipitridae
genus = "Aquila"
species = "A. verreauxii"
binomial = "Aquila verreauxii"
binomial_authority = 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 (30 to 38 in) in length, average weight for male is 3.7 kg (8.15 lbs) and for females 4.45 kg (9.8 lbs) and has a wingspan of up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft). 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. Structurally, it is very similar to the Golden Eagle of the Northern Hemisphere, and the Wedge-tailed Eagle of Australia.

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 of hyraxes (or dassies). The size of its territory often inversely reflects the size of the local hyrax population. Occasionally, it will alternately prey on birds such as guineafowl or mammals of similar size to hyraxes, such as large rodents.

The name commemorates the French naturalist Jules Verreaux.Mearns, Barbara; & Mearns, Richard. (1988). "Biographies for Birdwatchers. The lives of those commemorated in Western Palaearctic bird names". Academic Press: London. ISBN 0-12-487422-3]

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern