Long-crested Eagle
Lophaetus occipitalis
The Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) is a uncommon kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 38 countries, weighing about 1.1 kg. The long-crested eagle is an African bird of prey characterised by its shaggy crest of feathers.
About the Long-crested Eagle
The long-crested eagle is an African bird of prey characterised by its shaggy crest of feathers. In the family Accipitridae which includes all the eagles, it is currently placed in a monotypic genus Lophaetus. It is found throughout mid- and southern Africa, with differing home ranges due to food availability and suitable habitat area, but lives mainly on forest edges and near moist areas. Breeding may occur at any time of year, depending on food availability; it lays 1 or 2 eggs as is usual for raptors. It commonly eats smaller mammals, but will also eat other vertebrates and invertebrates.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The long-crested eagle is a distinctive eagle when perched due to the long, shaggy crest and all dark plumage often called Kamusungu-sungu in Uganda. The adults are blackish-brown with long, thin feathers growing from the rear of the crown which are held erect to form a crest. The secondary feathers are black barred with light grey and with broad black tips, the primary feathers and median underwing coverts are white, forming a noticeable white patch on the upper and lower surfaces of the wing which is visible in flight. The tail is black, barred with pale grey.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Niger.
When to see it
The Long-crested Eagle can be seen all year round, with peak activity in December. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Long-crested Eagle?
- The long-crested eagle is a distinctive eagle when perched due to the long, shaggy crest and all dark plumage often called Kamusungu-sungu in Uganda. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Long-crested Eagle?
- The Long-crested Eagle is a large sized bird weighing about 1.1 kg.
- Where can you see a Long-crested Eagle?
- The Long-crested Eagle occurs in 38 countries, including South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
- What birds look similar to a Long-crested Eagle?
- The Long-crested Eagle is most easily confused with the Black-collared Hawk, the Bearded Vulture and the Black Hawk-Eagle.
- Is the Long-crested Eagle endangered?
- The Long-crested Eagle is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Long-crested Eagle for real
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