The Martial, African-Crowned and Verreaux Eagles are known as the Kruger National Parks Big Three Eagles. In total there are 17 eagle species in South Africa and 15 of these are found in the Kruger National Park. Of these 15, nine make the Kruger their permanent residence.
Eagles are the most powerful raptors as they are large and aggressive, and seeing one during a Kruger Park safari is an unforgettable experience.
Martial Eagle
Of the three, the Martial eagle is the most commonly seen in the Kruger National Park and also happens to be the largest eagle in Africa. This eagle hunts with military precision making it an impressive raptor to see in action. In the Kruger National Park, there are about 256 breeding pairs. The Martial Eagle can cover about 100 square kilometres soaring high in the sky on its tip to tip wingspan of 2.6 meters looking for prey. Martial Eagles are usually shy and monogamous. They build their nests high up in trees, usually in a fork. They breed between April and August, laying one egg that takes up to 50 days to incubate. Once the chick is there, the male usually supplies the food and the female feeds the chick.
African-Crowned Eagle
The African-Crowned Eagle has a bigger body but smaller wingspan compared to the Verreaux Eagle, probably because of its preferred habitat which is a thick bush riverine bush. Here they can swoop down and the smaller wingspan gives it the manoeuvrability for them to catch their prey with ease. Even its mottled chest feathers give it the colouring it needs to fit in with its habitat. Although smaller than the Verreaux and Martial Eagle this raptor is more powerful. Hunting in pairs, one of them will fly in low over the trees and cause panic while the other one attacks from the other side. Their diet consists of monkeys, mongooses or even young antelope. They will also catch other birds or on occasion a reptile. They have been known to sometimes dismember prey and hide portions of it in trees to feed on later.
Verreaux’s Eagle
Formerly known as the Black Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagles are prey specific and prefer to eat dassies when they come out in the early morning or late afternoon. It is believed that a breeding pair and their chick are capable of eating up to 400 dassies in a year. They are also partial to a tortoise that they seize and then drop onto rocks to break the shell. Verreaux’s Eagles can be found in mountainous areas, preferring cliffs and rock ledges for their nests. They mate for life and will only replace a partner if it dies. They are therefore observed in pairs, often preening each other. They are also known to fly together in perfect unison. The best place to see the Verreaux’s Eagle in the Kruger National Park is to the north, particularly Nyala Drive on the Luvuvhu River where they make their nests in the cliffs and the mountains in the south at Berg en Dal.
