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Close-up portrait of a crowned eagle head

Crowned eagle

Crowned eagles have wingspans of 180cm making them one of the largest eagles in Africa. As with most birds of prey, females are larger than males. Their favourite prey is primates, and mated pairs will sometimes hunt co-operatively.

Scientific name: Stephanoaetus coronatus

Rank: Species

Common names:

  • African crowned eagle,
  • Crowned hawk-eagle

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Distribution

The Crowned eagle can be found in a number of locations including: Africa. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.

Habitats

The following habitats are found across the Crowned eagle distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.

Behaviours

Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.

Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

Least Concern

  1. EX - Extinct
  2. EW
  3. CR - Threatened
  4. EN - Threatened
  5. VU - Threatened
  6. NT
  7. LC - Least concern

Year assessed: 2009

Classified by: IUCN 3.1

About

The Crowned Eagle, also known as the African Crowned Eagle or the Crowned Hawk-eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) is a very large, powerful, crested bird of prey found in sub-Saharan Africa; in Southern Africa it is restricted to suitable habitat in the eastern areas. It is the only extant member of the genus Stephanoaetus. A second species, the Malagasy Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus mahery) became extinct after humans settled on Madagascar.

It mainly inhabits dense forests. Its staple diet consists of monkeys (particularly those of the genus Chlorocebus) and other medium-sized mammals, such as the Cape Hyrax and small antelopes. To a far lesser extent, birds and large lizards are also taken. However, at least 90% of the diet is mammalian.

While on average smaller in all measurements but length than the Martial Eagle, the Crowned Eagle is often considered Africa's most powerful and ferocious eagle in terms of the weight and nature of prey taken. It often preys on mammals such as duikers, weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb). Due to their similarities, the Crowned Eagle is often considered Africa's analogue of the Harpy Eagle.

Read more at Wikipedia

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Classification

  1. Life
  2. Animals
  3. Vertebrates
  4. Birds
  5. Birds of prey
  6. Hawk and eagle family
  7. Stephanoaetus
  8. Crowned eagle

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