Crowned eagles are not typically black, but rather have a dark to rufous-tinged brown crown with a prominent, oft-raised black-tipped double crest. The upperparts of an adult crowned eagle are a blackish brown-grey color, with a variable tinge of blue. The throat is brown while the belly and breast are white overlaid densely with blackish bars and blotches, variably marked with cream or rich buff-rufous coloration.

Plumage Variations in Crowned Eagles

Adult Crowned Eagles

• Crown is dark to rufous-tinged brown with a prominent, oft-raised black-tipped double crest
• Upperparts are blackish brown-grey color with a variable tinge of blue
• Throat is brown
• Belly and breast are white overlaid densely with blackish bars and blotches, variably marked with cream or rich buff-rufous coloration
• Wing primaries are white at the base, broadly tipped with black and crossed by two black bars
• Tail is black with brownish-grey bands
• Thighs and legs are barred and closely spotted with black and white
• Underwing coverts have a bold chestnut coloration, spotted lightly with black
• Eyes can range from yellow to almost white
• Cere and feet are ochre-yellow color, with black talons

Juvenile Crowned Eagles

• Head and underside are white, contrasting with heavily spotted black thighs and legs
• Back is light brown or grayish-brown, with pale feather edgings that often give the back a scaled appearance
• Often have a pinkish red wash on the upper chest
• Just-fledged chicks tend to have dark patched faces, freckled bibs and slightly barred chests and spotted legs
• Less common juvenile plumages may include heavily striped eagles that could be mistaken for 2-3 year olds

Habitat and Hunting Behavior of Crowned Eagles

Image source: crowned eagle

• Found only in Africa, inhabiting mainly dense woodlands, including rainforests, but also in relict patches, wooded escarpments, riparian strips, and rocky outcrops
• Considered nervous and constantly alert, but their hunting techniques require long periods of inactivity on perches
• Hunt alone or in pairs, mainly in the early morning and late evening
• Often still-hunt, dropping or stooping onto prey from a branch perch
• Highly vocal with a noisy, undulating display flight

Prey and Hunting Prowess of Crowned Eagles

• Considered the most powerful raptor of sub-Saharan Africa, and one of the strongest land animals pound-for-pound
• Prey on mammals far larger than themselves, including primates, ungulates, rock hyraxes, and other mammals

In conclusion, while crowned eagles are not typically black, they exhibit a range of plumage variations, from the distinctive adult coloration to the strikingly different juvenile plumages. Their hunting prowess and ability to take large prey make them a formidable predator in the African ecosystem.

Reference:
– https://animalia.bio/crowned-eagle
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowned_eagle
– https://avibirds.com/eagles-of-africa/
– https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/crowned-eagle
– https://le.kloofconservancy.org.za/crowned-eagles-in-the-big-city/