Black Eagles nest in South Africa - 2015
Posted: February 6th, 2015, 7:25 pm
Black Eagles (Aquila verreauxii) in South Africa
Black Eagles or Verreaux's Eagles (Aquila verreauxii), not to be confused with the Indian Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis) are large birds of prey living in Africa. Their size of 75 to 96 cm from the bill to the tip of the tail makes them the 6th largest eagle in the world. Males weigh between 3 and 4,2 kg, females 3,1 to 7 kg, wingspan between 1,8 and 2,3 m.
Adult males and females are physically indistinguishable from each other, except for the size, they are mostly jet-black in colour. Cere and eye ring and brow are yellow, bill is gun-metal grey. A very prominent feature of the flying birds when seen from above is the white on the back, rump and upper-tail coverts and part of the scapulars, which forms a V-shaped patch, although this feature is partially obscured in perched birds. Adults also have conspicuous white windows on the wing quills at the carpal joint (at the base of the primaries) when seen flying both from above and below. The legs are fully feathered, which identifies them as member of the Booted Eagles.
Generally, like in most aquila eagles, two eggs are laid (range from one to three are known), laid at a three day interval. Both birds are incubating with the female taking the major share, for 43 to 47 days, starting with it immediately after laying which makes hatching happen 2-3 days apart. One egg is sometimes infertile, second egg tends to be 10% smaller.
Black Eagles are considered "obligate cainists", meaning the older sibling kills the younger one (in more than 90% of observed nests) by either starvation or direct attacks. Aggression may continue for up to 70 days after hatching! Fledging happens regionally different between 90 to 99 days after hatching.
For approximately three months the adult birds will teach the juvenile it’s survival skills, bringing food for it to the nesting gorge. Towards the end of the three months the male eagle will initiate aggression towards the youngster especially when there is prey in the area. The juvenile will fly further and further afield, no longer returning to the nesting gorge and ultimately it will depart from the territory altogether.
(copyright Africam)
For Black Eagle calls:
http://macaulaylibrary.org/search?taxon ... &tab=audio
A lot of information can be found in Valerie Gargett's book: The Black Eagle: Verreaux's Eagle in Southern Africa - which can be still found as antiquarian book through specialised bookshops.
The Link for the camera: http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam - maintained by Africam.com
Black Eagles or Verreaux's Eagles (Aquila verreauxii), not to be confused with the Indian Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis) are large birds of prey living in Africa. Their size of 75 to 96 cm from the bill to the tip of the tail makes them the 6th largest eagle in the world. Males weigh between 3 and 4,2 kg, females 3,1 to 7 kg, wingspan between 1,8 and 2,3 m.
Adult males and females are physically indistinguishable from each other, except for the size, they are mostly jet-black in colour. Cere and eye ring and brow are yellow, bill is gun-metal grey. A very prominent feature of the flying birds when seen from above is the white on the back, rump and upper-tail coverts and part of the scapulars, which forms a V-shaped patch, although this feature is partially obscured in perched birds. Adults also have conspicuous white windows on the wing quills at the carpal joint (at the base of the primaries) when seen flying both from above and below. The legs are fully feathered, which identifies them as member of the Booted Eagles.
Generally, like in most aquila eagles, two eggs are laid (range from one to three are known), laid at a three day interval. Both birds are incubating with the female taking the major share, for 43 to 47 days, starting with it immediately after laying which makes hatching happen 2-3 days apart. One egg is sometimes infertile, second egg tends to be 10% smaller.
Black Eagles are considered "obligate cainists", meaning the older sibling kills the younger one (in more than 90% of observed nests) by either starvation or direct attacks. Aggression may continue for up to 70 days after hatching! Fledging happens regionally different between 90 to 99 days after hatching.
For approximately three months the adult birds will teach the juvenile it’s survival skills, bringing food for it to the nesting gorge. Towards the end of the three months the male eagle will initiate aggression towards the youngster especially when there is prey in the area. The juvenile will fly further and further afield, no longer returning to the nesting gorge and ultimately it will depart from the territory altogether.
(copyright Africam)
For Black Eagle calls:
http://macaulaylibrary.org/search?taxon ... &tab=audio
A lot of information can be found in Valerie Gargett's book: The Black Eagle: Verreaux's Eagle in Southern Africa - which can be still found as antiquarian book through specialised bookshops.
The Link for the camera: http://www.africam.com/wildlife/black_eagle_webcam - maintained by Africam.com