Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Long-crested Eagle
Lophaetus occipitalis
Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Lophaetus
- Species occipitalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Long-crested Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Long-crested Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 37.4 cm and a tail of around 20.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 14 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Long-crested Eagle?
The Long-crested Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Long-crested Eagle live?
The Long-crested Eagle is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Long-crested Eagle belong to?
The Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Long-crested Eagle eat?
The Long-crested Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Long-crested Eagle migrate?
The Long-crested Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Long-crested Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Long-crested Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Long-crested Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Long-crested Eagle's range?
The Long-crested Eagle has a mapped global range of about 14 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Near Threatened
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Vulnerable
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.