Specie's Page                                               South Africa - Verreaux's eagle Owl

Verreaux's Eagle Owl:  

Habitat: Found in most of sub Saharan Africa it is most common in southern, and eastern Africa. It is much scarcer in Western Africa, mainly because it avoid deep rain forests. It's usual habitats are dry savannahs with scatted trees and thick thorn bushes.

Breeding: This bird can breed at any time of the year, breeding peaks though between February and September, and appears to correspond with the dry season. These owls are monogamous, and probably mate for life. Verreaux's Owl doesn't often build it's own nest, they usually take over the old nests of other large birds, nest height vary considerably. Females usually lay two large white eggs in a clutch, which take three to four weeks to hatch.

Comment: This bird is also known as the Milky Owl, or Giant Eagle Owl. As an apex predator these owls don't normally have enemies which prey upon them. They have a highly variable diet which includes birds, reptiles, fish, small to medium sized mammals including Hedgehogs , sometimes running after prey on the ground.