Crowned Eagle

Stephanoaetus coronatus
Wingspan

150–180cm

Body length

80–100cm

Weight

2,600–4,100g

Profile

Life expectancy
Clutch size
1–2 eggs
Global status
Activity
Migration

Identification

An erectile crest and powerful talons characterise this forest eagle. Its short, broad wings and long tail allow tight turns between trees. Young Crowned Eagles are much paler than adults.

Colours

Plumage
Eyes
Legs & feet

Adult

Dark head with an erectile crest, dark upperparts and boldly marked cream to reddish underparts. The long tail is clearly barred.

Behaviour

Crowned Eagles also occur in some South African cities, provided suitable woodland remains. A long-term study in KwaZulu-Natal shows how flexibly the species can respond to such altered landscapes.

Breeding & rearing

Many pairs breed only every second year. In more strongly urbanised territories, annual breeding attempts were observed more often, but also more failures. More frequent breeding therefore does not automatically mean more fledged young.

Diet

Prey examples

Monkeys

Forest mammals, especially monkeys and small antelopes, make up most of the diet. Which prey dominates depends on the area. Large prey is dismembered on the ground and carried to the eyrie in portions.

Occasional

Snakes

Hunting

Crowned Eagle: Ambush hunting · Perch hunting · Cooperative hunting
Ambush huntingPerch huntingCooperative hunting

From a hidden perch the crowned eagle watches clearings and branches. With a short, powerful flight it seizes mammals on the ground or in the trees. Sometimes a pair hunts together.

Distribution

Range

Sub-Saharan Africa

Habitat

Tropical forests, wooded mountain landscapes and dense patches of forest with large nest trees. For hunting it also uses clearings and forest edges.

Species-rich tropical rainforest with mighty tree crowns
Rainforests
Old mixed broadleaf forest with clearings and forest edges
Forests
Crowned Eagle