Long-crested eagle

The long-crested eagle, a captivating bird of prey indigenous to Africa, belongs to the Accipitridae family. It is readily identifiable by its distinctive, shaggy crest and dark plumage. Adult long-crested eagles boast blackish-brown feathers and a remarkable crest composed of long, slender feathers, while their eyes are a vivid yellow. In contrast, juvenile birds have grey eyes.

These eagles inhabit regions across sub-Saharan Africa, stretching from Senegal and Ethiopia to South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana. They thrive in a variety of habitats, such as forest edges, moist woodlands, grasslands, marshes, riversides, and even farmlands.

During courtship, the male long-crested eagle engages in an impressive display, performing steep dives and emitting frequent calls. Both the male and female collaborate to construct their nest, typically situating it in the mid-canopy near the forest edge. They usually lay 1-2 eggs, which require about 42 days to incubate.

The diet of these eagles primarily consists of rodents, but they also consume birds, frogs, lizards, invertebrates, fish, and occasionally fruit. They are "sit-and-wait" hunters, patiently perching until the opportune moment to swoop down on their prey.

Taxonomically, recent research indicates that the long-crested eagle may be closely related to spotted eagles, potentially forming a clade. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to substantiate this relationship. At present, most experts continue to classify the long-crested eagle in its own distinct genus, Lophaetus.