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ForestPlatform nestLarge · 1.1 kg
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Long-crested Eagle
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Long-crested Eagle
The map shades 37 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Niger.
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.
Easily confused with
Black-collared HawkBusarellus nigricollisThe black-collared hawk is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
Black EagleIctinaetus malaiensisThe black eagle is a large but slender eagle, at about 75 cm (30 in) in length and 148 to 182 cm (4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 0 in) in wingspan.
Bearded VultureGypaetus barbatusThe bearded vulture is 94–125 cm (37–49 in) long with a wingspan of 2.31–2.83 m (7 ft 7 in – 9 ft 3 in).
Side by side: Black Eagle vs Long-crested Eagle · Bearded Vulture vs Long-crested Eagle
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