Facts about Verreaux's Eagle
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Named after French naturalist Jules Verreaux, Verreaux's Eagle was formally described by the ornithologist Andrew Smith in 1830.
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In cliff-nesting sites across their range, Verreaux's Eagles produce only one fledgling every two years on average, among the lowest reproductive rates of any large raptor species.
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Fossil evidence from the Pleistocene epoch shows Verreaux's Eagles inhabited Europe and Asia for millions of years before retreating to African and Middle Eastern regions during climate shifts.
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Territorial disputes between Verreaux's Eagles can result in fatal combat, with intruding birds occasionally killed by resident pairs defending cliff nesting sites across their 60-square-mile ranges.
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Hunting from clifftop perches, Verreaux's Eagles can dive at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour to strike prey on rocky terrain.
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Verreaux's Eagles typically raise only one chick per breeding season, even when two eggs hatch, due to the stronger nestling killing its weaker sibling in a behavior called cainism.
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A wingspan reaching 9.3 feet makes Verreaux's Eagle one of the largest raptors in Africa and Eurasia, with females significantly larger than males.
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The black eagle, as Verreaux's Eagle is called in Africa, hunts rock hyraxes almost exclusively, comprising up to 98 percent of its diet in some regions.
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Pairs of Verreaux's Eagles mate for life and can occupy the same territory for up to 45 years, making them among the most long-term bonded raptors.