Verreaux's Eagle
Aquila verreauxii
The Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) is a uncommon kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 24 countries, weighing about 4.2 kg. Verreaux's eagle is a large, mostly African, bird of prey.
About the Verreaux's Eagle
Verreaux's eagle is a large, mostly African, bird of prey. It is also called the black eagle, especially in southern Africa, not to be confused with the black eagle of south and southeast Asia. The Verreaux's eagle lives in hilly and mountainous regions of southern and eastern Africa, and very locally in the Middle East.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Verreaux's eagle is a very large eagle. It measures 75 to 96 cm (30 to 38 in) long from the bill to the tip of the tail, making it the sixth longest eagle in the world. Males can weigh 3 to 4.2 kg (6.6 to 9.3 lb) and the larger females weigh 3.1 to 7 kg (6.8 to 15.4 lb). The average weight is approximately 4.19 kg (9.2 lb), based on the weights of 21 eagles of both sexes. Other reported mean body mass measurements of Verreaux's eagles were lower however, with seven unsexed birds averaging 3.32 kg (7.3 lb), while four unsexed eagles in an additional study averaged 3.72 kg (8.2 lb). Voice: This species is largely silent, though is arguably a stronger vocalist than its close cousin, the golden eagle. Chicking and chirruping sounds like that of a young turkey or francolin, pyuck, have been heard in various contexts, such as pairs being reunited. More striking sounds are loud, ringing whaeee-whaeee, heeeee-oh or keeooo-keeooo calls used as contact calls or during intruder chases.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Chad.
When to see it
The Verreaux's Eagle can be seen all year round, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Verreaux's Eagle on live cams
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Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Verreaux's Eagle?
- Verreaux's eagle is a very large eagle. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Verreaux's Eagle?
- The Verreaux's Eagle is a huge sized bird weighing about 4.2 kg.
- Where can you see a Verreaux's Eagle?
- The Verreaux's Eagle occurs in 24 countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.
- What birds look similar to a Verreaux's Eagle?
- The Verreaux's Eagle is most easily confused with the Eastern Imperial Eagle, the Spanish Imperial Eagle and the African Hawk-Eagle.
- Is the Verreaux's Eagle endangered?
- The Verreaux's Eagle is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Verreaux's Eagle for real
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