The Long-Crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) is an African raptor, a bird of prey. It is an accipiter.

The Long-Crested Eagle is black-brown over most of its body, with patches of white on its wings. It has a long, shaggy crest. It has black and grey bars on its tail. Its eyes are big and bright yellow. It has a black beak with a yellow cere, and yellow legs.

 

Its body length is 53–58 centimetres (21–23 inches).

The Long-Crested Eagle is from Sub-Saharan Africa. It prefers forest edges and moist woodlands, particularly near grasslands, and a river or a stream.

The Long-Crested Eagle is territorial, and it will defend its territory by chasing away other eagles. It eats rodents, such as mice and rats.

Both the male and female build their nest in a tree. It is made of sticks and lined with green leaves. Females lay 1-2 eggs, and she sits on them for about 42 days before they hatch.

The eggs hatch asynchronously, about two weeks apart. The father initially feeds the young chicks. The chicks take about 53 days to grow all of their feathers. They remain in the nest for a total of 4-5 months.

 

 

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM