The #long-crestedeagle (Lophaetus occipitalis ) is an African bird of prey, who’s legends have been told by an African folk teller of the mighty bird with incredible flying skills and often called Kamusungu-sungu by locals in Uganda.
Description
The distinctive eagle has a long, shaggy crest with dark plumage, adults are blackish-brown with long, thin feathers growing from the rear of the crown which forms a crest and strongly believe that it is the source of the naming. The tail is black, barred with pale grey with bright yellow but can be darker in females. The juveniles are similar to the adults, but the plumage is lighter in colour and the crest is not developed and grey eye colour.
Habitat
The sky legend is of a forest edge character of predator instinct which creates cover and an overview of the prey. The bird dominates the moist woodland, around grasslands, marsh, and on the river banks. The bird can also be found in mixed farmland and grazing lands. It has also been recorded in several countries like Senegal, Gambia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and not forgetting Uganda the Pearl of Africa.
Diet
The raptor waits as it scans the ground and when the timing is right, the eagle then dives in and swoops on prey with a gliding flight. The #long-crestedeagle diet including owls, frogs and lizards, invertebrates and even fish and fruit were also recorded as forming part of the species meals.
Reproduction
The #long-crestedeagle is known for being territorial, but during mating season, both sexes build up a nest with the desired mate. The nest constructed is of a bowl-shaped depression in the centre which is lined with green
leaves. It is normally situated in the mid-canopy and very close to the trunk of a tree near the forest edge for protection from predators. At times the eagle will as well reuse the nest of another bird after a bit of repair, the former owners include the lizard buzzard or black sparrowhawk. It breeds all year, sight on your safari to #Uganda
#gorillapage