Lesser Spotted Eagle

Afrikaans name: Gevlekte Arend

Lesser Spotted Eagle

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Clanga pomarina

The Lesser Spotted Eagle is a large bird with a length of 65 cm and a wingspan of around 1.5 metres. Males, on average, weigh around 1.2 kg with females being heavier at 1.5 kg.

This one of the annoyingly similar brown eagles that one sees in a place like Kruger National Park. It has a yellow eye and a yellow cere on its otherwise black bill. Its feet are also yellow.

The Lesser Spotted Eagle is not a common sighting in South Africa. It is only present between October and March after which it migrates back to Europe and Asia. It can only be seen in the north-eastern region of South Africa.

It is found in, or flying over, woodland and savanna. It is a generally solitary raptor but may, at times, be seen in small flocks and may even mix with other raptors such as Steppe Eagles. They have a varied diet which includes smaller prey items such as birds, small mammals, frogs, and termites. Like some of the other brown eagles they indulge in termites, which are taken on the ground, as well as the chicks of Red-billed Queleas.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	136	Psammoaetus pomarinus
2nd	136	Aquila pomarina
3rd	136	Aquila pomarina
4th	136	Aquila pomarina
5th	134	Aquila pomarina
6th	134	Aquila pomarina
7th	388	Aquila pomarina

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	136	Lesser Spotted Eagle
2nd	136	Lesser Spotted Eagle
3rd	136	Lesser Spotted Eagle
4th	136	Lesser Spotted Eagle
5th	134	Lesser Spotted Eagle
6th	134	Lesser Spotted Eagle
7th	388	Lesser Spotted Eagle

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	136	Klein Gevlekte-arend
2nd	136	Klein Gevlekte Arend
3rd	136	Klein Gevlekte Arend
4th	136	Klein Gevlekte Arend
5th	134	Gevlekte Arend
6th	134	Gevlekte Arend
7th	388	Gevlekte Arend

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 58

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Published: 1984 - Page: 37

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 15

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 53

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 92

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 98

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 115

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Published: 1998 - Page: 84

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 99

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 119

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 91

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 158

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 72

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 162

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 76

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 162

Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Published: 1989 - Page: 646

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 56

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 68

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 48

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 18

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 73

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 75

Birds of Prey of the World - Author: Friedhelm Weick - Published: 1980 - Page: 124

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 104

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 14

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Published: 1970 - Page: 105

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds