Re: Hyenas and Small-Medium Predators

[Tommy Tyrberg <tommy.tyrberg@norrkoping.mail.telia.com>]

There seems to be a great deal of confusion about African eagles so let's
straighten things out (I only mention the commoner species that occur in
savannah habitat) :

First Aquila eagles:

"The common stone eagle" (presumably = Steinadler, e. g. Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos) does *not* occur south of the Sahara, not even in winter.

The common Aquila in savannah habitat is the Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, in
winter supplemented by it's close relative Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis.
These are "standard" Aquila eagles feeding on small-medium vertebrates in
general.

There is also a smaller and rather less common Aquila, Wahlbergs Eagle
Aquila wahlbergi which to a large extent feeds on reptiles. The same is
probably also true of the (western) Lesser Spotted Eagles Aquila pomarina
which winter in the savannah habitat, at least this is largely a reptile
feeder in summer in Europe.

The Black Eagle Aquila verreauxi is a large powerful bird. It's more of a
hill or mountain species and is a very specialized hyrax feeder

As for other eagles there is the African Fish Eagle Haliaetus vocifer which
is also a "normal" Haliaetus, primarily a fish-eater, but also takes
carrion, small mammals, birds, reptiles etc. Nearly always found near lakes
or rivers. A large species, like all Haliaetus

The Black-breasted Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis is also mostly a
reptile feeder, though it will also take other prey. A medium eagle

The African Hawk Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster is a smallish, agile eagle
which feeds largely on birds but also some mammals. More or less the same
is true of the Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, which occurs in winter.

The Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus is a very large, powerful species
which takes large bird or reptiles and medium mammals (hares, hyraxes,
small antelopes). 

The Long-Crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis is a smallish species, mostly
a rodent/shrew eater.

The Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus really shouldn't be included here
since it is *not* a savannah bird. It's a bird of forests or dense
woodland. It is however the African representative of the category "Large
Monkey-eating Rainforest Eagle", a guild that has (or had) at least one
member in every major rainforest region.

And that's about all. As You can see the medium/large raptor niche is
rather intricately partitioned in dry Africa, as a matter of fact I don't
think there is an equal number of eagles in any other habitat on Earth.

I hope this helps
Tommy Tyrberg


The Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus is also a reptile eater. It is
smaller and scarcer than its congener.