Verreaux’s eagle is one of Africa’s most specialised and magnificent raptors. Almost entirely jet black with brilliant white patches on the back and rump, this large eagle is a specialist predator of hyraxes — small rabbit-sized mammals that live among rocky outcrops and cliffs. In Uganda the species is associated primarily with Mount Elgon, where rocky terrain provides both nesting sites and hyrax hunting grounds.
For birders visiting Uganda in 2027, Verreaux’s eagle is a speciality target that requires a specific visit to Mount Elgon National Park or other rocky highland areas where hyraxes are common. The effort is well rewarded — this is one of the world’s most beautiful eagles and seeing it soar over the cliffs of Mount Elgon is a truly memorable experience.
Identification
Verreaux’s eagle is a large eagle reaching 80 to 96 centimetres with a wingspan of 188 to 219 centimetres. The adult plumage is almost entirely glossy black with a prominent white V on the back visible in flight and a white rump. The wingtips are black and the underwing shows a distinctive narrow white wing patch along the inner primaries. The bill is grey and the cere and feet are yellow.
Immature birds are brown and cream with a brown crown and go through a complex series of plumage changes over five to six years. The adult’s jet-black plumage and white back pattern is distinctive at any range. In flight the deeply slotted wingtips and pale inner primaries are characteristic features visible at considerable distance.
The Hyrax Specialist
Verreaux’s eagle has an extraordinary feeding specialisation — approximately 90% of its diet consists of hyraxes. This dependence on a single prey type is unusual among large raptors and means the eagle’s distribution closely mirrors that of hyrax populations. In Uganda, rock hyraxes and tree hyraxes provide the food base for the eagles at Mount Elgon.
The eagles hunt by soaring along cliff faces and rocky ridges, using the terrain to approach hyraxes by surprise. Hunting pairs sometimes cooperate, with one bird driving hyraxes into the open while the other makes the strike. A single hyrax hunt may sustain a pair for several days, and pairs typically hunt only twice a week or less.
Mount Elgon: Key Habitat in Uganda
Mount Elgon National Park on Uganda’s eastern border with Kenya is the primary location for Verreaux’s eagle in Uganda. The volcanic caldera, rocky cliffs, and moorland habitats support healthy hyrax populations that in turn sustain eagle pairs. The park also holds an extraordinary diversity of other highland species including the Jackson’s francolin, lammergeier, and various Albertine Rift birds.
The eagles are most visible when soaring along the cliff faces in the morning as thermals develop. The Sipi Falls area on the lower slopes of Mount Elgon also provides good habitat and is a scenic area for eagle watching combined with visiting the spectacular waterfalls. Experienced local guides know where resident pairs hunt.
Breeding Biology
Verreaux’s eagles nest on cliff ledges or in large trees on rocky outcrops. The nest is a large structure of sticks and plant material used year after year and growing to considerable size over decades. One to two eggs are laid with a two-egg interval, and the younger chick almost always dies in what is called “Cain and Abel” competition. The surviving chick fledges at about three months.
Pairs mate for life and maintain long-term territories. The slow breeding rate — one successful chick every two years at best — means populations are sensitive to any increase in adult mortality. In Uganda the species benefits from national park protection at Mount Elgon but faces challenges from habitat degradation outside protected boundaries.
Photography Tips
The jet-black plumage of Verreaux’s eagle presents a classic exposure challenge — expose for the bird and the background sky becomes overexposed, expose for the sky and the bird becomes a silhouette. On overcast days with a bright but diffuse sky the problem is reduced. Look for birds against the cliff face or perched on rocky ledges where the background is not bright sky. The white back patch is the key diagnostic feature — aim to capture this clearly.
Plan Your Mount Elgon Visit in 2027
The gorilla trekking permit costs $800 in 2027. Mount Elgon can be visited as part of an eastern Uganda itinerary or as a standalone destination. Combining the mountain hike and birdwatching with the Sipi Falls area makes for an excellent 2 to 3 day extension to any Uganda safari. Contact us to include Verreaux’s eagle and Mount Elgon in your 2027 Uganda wildlife programme.
