Crowned Eagle fitted with identification tag in Amanzimtoti
The identification rings help researchers keep track of the Crowned Eagles.

AS PART of the Crowned Eagle Research that started at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 2012, a nesting Crowned Eagle was fitted with an identification ring in Amanzimtoti on November 7, to help get more data about these raptors.
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The Crowned Eagle is on the endangered species list and is protected by the government’s wildlife ordinance. The location of the nest will not be disclosed to the public to protect the birds. Dr Shane McPherson, an honorary research fellow who performed the ringing, said he has been involved with the project since he was a young student at UKZN.
“There are three main components of this research. The first one is to monitor all of the breeding records of Crowned Eagles in Durban and the surrounding urban areas, on the South Coast, and in Pietermaritzburg. Secondly, we attach identification rings on the nestlings and some adults,” said McPherson.
The identification rings on the chicks are important because they let McPherson and his team know the year the bird was born and its original location. The rings are identifiable on the bird for its entire life and provide data that includes where they are moving to and which survive to adulthood.
“The third component looks into conflicts with Crowned Eagles. Sometimes it conflicts with domestic animals, but they are a small part of their diet, at less than 1%, but it does lead to tension with some farmers, which causes them to be shot. It’s a problem we are trying to manage and share information about as much as possible,” he said.
Besides being shot, other causes of death are electrocution when colliding with electric wires and collisions with glass and razor wires.
“Our goal is to see Crowned Eagles survive and thrive,” said McPherson.
Facts about Crowned Eagles
- It has a dark brown head, white and blackish feathers and thick legs
- Its talons are unusually large and may kill by crushing the prey’s skull
- Its diet mainly consists of monkeys, hadedas, mongooses, dassies and even blue duiker
- It may live for over 30 years in the wild
- Its wingspan may range from 1.5m to 1.8m
- A pair will mate for life
- A female Crowned Eagle will lay one or two eggs. The eggs are white but sometimes have brownish flecks. Crowned Eagles breed once every two years. Incubation lasts for approximately 49 days.

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