The African hawk-eagle (Aquila spilogaster) is a medium-sized eagle with a white chest and underside marked with black vertical stripes, a black top and black tips to its tail and wings. It hunts mainly birds and game birds, which it usually flushes out, and pairs often hunt together: one flushes the prey while the other makes the killing strike.
Name
African hawk-eagle [Aquila spilogaster]
Appearance
The African Hawk-eagle is a medium sized bird that has a white chest and underside. The base of the tail feathers and the mid-section of the wings’ underside are also white in colour. The tips of the tail and the wings as well as the base of the wings and the top of its body are all black. It has black vertical stripes on its white chest. Immature African Hawk-eagles are much lighter than adults, with their colours being light brown and white.
Diet
The African Hawk-eagle hunts primarily using its feet. They sit on a high perch and spot their prey from up to a kilometer away. African Hawk-eagles’ diet contains mainly birds and game birds, which they usually flush out to catch. They often hunt in pairs, with one doing the flushing while the other one does the killing strike. They have also been known to feed on small mammals and reptiles.
Breeding
During the breeding season the male will perform various calls and swoops and the female will then turn around and show her claws, as the male brings the female nuptial gifts. The Female will lay up to 2 eggs in a nest between April and August and incubate them for 43 days. Both the male and female are present in the raising and upbringing of the chicks.
Behaviour
African Hawk-eagles build their nests in high up areas like the canopies of trees and man-made structures like pylons. Their nests are generally large and are in the form of a large platform. Nests of African Hawk-eagles have been known to be used up to 60 years long. It has been known that the first hatched chick will crush and kill the second if there is not enough food available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an African hawk-eagle look like?
An adult African hawk-eagle has a white chest and underside with black vertical stripes. The base of the tail and the middle of the underwing are white, while the wing and tail tips, the base of the wings and the top of the body are black. Immature birds are much lighter, in light brown and white.
What does the African hawk-eagle eat?
The African hawk-eagle eats mainly birds and game birds, which it usually flushes out to catch. It has also been known to feed on small mammals and reptiles.
How does the African hawk-eagle hunt?
The African hawk-eagle hunts primarily with its feet. It sits on a high perch and can spot prey from up to a kilometre away. Pairs often hunt together, with one bird flushing the prey while the other makes the killing strike.
Where do African hawk-eagles nest?
African hawk-eagles build large, platform-shaped nests high up, in tree canopies or on man-made structures such as pylons. If there is not enough food, the first chick to hatch will crush and kill the second.
When do African hawk-eagles breed?
The female lays up to 2 eggs between April and August and incubates them for 43 days. In courtship, the male calls, swoops and brings her nuptial gifts, and she turns around to show her claws. Both parents raise the chicks.
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