Verreaux's Eagle

Afrikaans name: Witkruisarend

Verreaux's Eagle

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Aquila verreauxii

The Verreaux’s Eagle, which is most often referred to as the Black Eagle, is a bird of prey that generates a lot of excitement when seen by birders and other nature lovers alike!

They are a resident species and can be found over most of South Africa. Their preferred habitat is areas cliffs, gorges, and rocky hills. These are the habitats also enjoyed by dassies, so it is no surprise that dassies are the favourite prey of the Verreaux’s Eagle. They tend to fly fast along these rocky outcrops while keeping a sharp eye to see if it can surprise a dassie or other prey item. They also spend a lot of time perched or soaring high in the sky.

As their more popular name suggests they are predominantly black in colour. They do have a white V-shape on their upper backs and some white on their lower backs. Their feet are yellow. The Verreaux’s Eagle obtains a length of 80 cm or so and a wingspan approaching 2 metres. Males weigh around 3.7 kg while females can weigh up to 5.8 kg.

The Verreaux’s Eagle breeds between April and June. Their very large nest is normally built on a ledge and is re-used each year. The female normally lays 2 eggs which are normally plain white in colour. The male catches food for the chicks but it is the female that feeds them.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	133	Pteroaetus verreauxi
2nd	133	Aquila verreauxi
3rd	133	Aquila verreauxi
4th	133	Aquila verreauxi
5th	131	Aquila verreauxii
6th	131	Aquila verreauxii
7th	389	Aquila verreauxii

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	133	Black Eagle
2nd	133	Black Eagle
3rd	133	Black Eagle
4th	133	Black Eagle
5th	131	Black Eagle
6th	131	Black Eagle
7th	389	Verreaux's Eagle

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	133	Witkruis-arend
2nd	133	Witkruis-arend
3rd	133	Witkruis-arend
4th	133	Witkruis-arend
5th	131	Witkruisarend
6th	131	Witkruisarend
7th	389	Witkruisarend

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 60

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 49

Wild Issue 14 - Author: - Published: 2011 - Page: 11

Wild Issue 27 - Author: - Published: 2014 - Page: 32

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 41

Vanishing Eagles - Author: Philip Burton - Published: 1987 - Page: 90

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 52

The Black Eagle - Author: Valerie Gargett - Published: 1990 - Page: 1

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Published: 1984 - Page: 29

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 8

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 151

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 16

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 94

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Published: 1998 - Page: 78

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 96

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 112

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 117

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 95

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 89

Places to Visit in Southern Africa - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1995 - Page: 157

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 16

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

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 71

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 168

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 40

Nature in the Balance - Author: Rob Marsh - Published: 1991 - Page: 21

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 168

KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 173

Know your Birds of Prey - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 32

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 140

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 58

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

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 409

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 77

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

Eagle Days - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1973 - Page: 1

Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Published: 1989 - Page: 672

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 47

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 40

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 52

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 74

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 16

Birds of Prey - A Kinship - Author: H. Von Michaelis - Published: 1987 - Page: 70

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 59

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 72

Birds of Prey of the World - Author: Friedhelm Weick - Published: 1980 - Page: 126

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 102

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

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Published: 1970 - Page: 110

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 12

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 132

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 70

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 132

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