Verreauxs eagle

Introduction: Verreauxs' eagle (Aquila verreauxii) is named after the brothers of the same name, Jules (1808-1873) and Edouard (1810-1868), French collectors who worked at the Cape. Climbing boots on to observe this species in mountains and rocky areas with cliffs. They are usually in pairs, remaining close together for most of the day. First light and dusk is the best time of day to see them who roost on cliffs, usually near the nest site.

Distribution: Absent from the Kalahari sand habitat. Central plateau regions from Fish River Canyon in the south extending to Windhoek, Erongo Mountains, Brandberg, Spitzkoppe, Etosha National Park and as far north as Epupa Falls.

Diet: Takes most prey from the ground, hunting in pairs. Records confirm 1 pair in Namibia chased a kudu calf over a cliff. Hunts rock hyrax, vervet monkey, Chacma baboon, bushbabies, dune mole rat, klipspringer, springbok and reedbuck. Avian prey includes francolins, herons, Egyptian goose, kelp gull and chickens.

Description: Distinctive from all other raptors because of colouration. Black tail, head, wing coverts and body. Back and rump white, with a characteristic 'V' extending to either side of the mantle from the back.

Breeding: Females lay 1 or 2 eggs between April and June in a large cup made of sticks incubated for up to 50 days.

Size: 95cm.

Weight: 4.5kg.

Wingspan: 2.5kg.