The
long-crested eagle (
Lophaetus occipitalis) is an African
bird of prey. Like all
eagles, it is in the family
Accipitridae. It is characterised by the feathers making up the shaggy crest. It is found throughout mid- to southern-Africa with differing home ranges due to food availability and suitable habitat area but lives mainly on forest edges and near moist areas. Breeding usually occurs year-round depending on food availability with 1 to 2 eggs being laid as is characteristic by raptors. Furthermore, as a raptor species, it commonly eats smaller mammals, however other vertebrates and invertebrates are also consumed. This long-crested eagle was photographed in
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.
Photograph credit: User:Charles J. Sharp