Crested eagles, also known as long-crested eagles, are primarily diurnal hunters, meaning they are most active and do most of their hunting during daylight hours. While there is some evidence that they may engage in hunting behavior at night, this is not their primary hunting time.

Crested Eagles’ Hunting Preferences

Crested eagles have a preference for living on forest margins or in woodland and have adapted to exotic plantations, preferably adjacent to grasslands, wetlands, marshes, or rivers. Their diet mainly consists of rodents, especially vlei rats, but they also eat reptiles, frogs, invertebrates, and birds less often. They have been known to eat fruit, such as wild figs and mulberries, as well.

Crested Eagles’ Hunting Behavior

Fonte immagine: Aquila dalla lunga cresta Di Charles J. Sharp

Crested eagles have a large gape, which allows them to swallow most prey whole. Prey animals too large for swallowing in one piece are dismembered. They have a distinctive long crest, which makes them unmistakable as they perch in trees or on poles near roadways, both in suburban areas and in the countryside.

Crested Eagles’ Activity Patterns

While crested eagles are primarily diurnal hunters, there is some evidence to suggest that they may engage in hunting behavior at night, although this is not their primary hunting time. A study on the foraging behavior of crested eagles in South Africa found that they were active during both day and night, with a peak in activity during the early morning and late afternoon. However, the study did not specifically address whether crested eagles were hunting at night or simply moving around during that time.

Factors Influencing Crested Eagles’ Hunting Behavior

Several factors may influence the hunting behavior of crested eagles, including:

1. Disponibilità di prede: The availability of their primary prey, such as rodents, reptiles, and birds, may determine when they choose to hunt.
2. Condizioni ambientali: Weather, temperature, and light levels may affect the activity patterns and hunting behavior of crested eagles.
3. Caratteristiche dell'habitat: The specific habitat characteristics of the crested eagles’ territory, such as the presence of forest margins, grasslands, or wetlands, may influence their hunting strategies.

Conclusione

In summary, crested eagles are primarily diurnal hunters, with a preference for hunting during daylight hours. While there is some evidence to suggest that they may engage in hunting behavior at night, this is not their primary hunting time. Their hunting behavior is influenced by various factors, including prey availability, environmental conditions, and habitat characteristics.

Riferimenti:

1. NatureBackIn. (2020, February 6). Urban raptors: Long-crested eagle – letting nature back in. Retrieved from https://naturebackin.com/2020/02/06/urban-raptors-long-crested-eagle/
2. The Peregrine Fund. (n.d.). Crested Caracara. Retrieved from https://peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/falcons/crested-caracara/
3. Animalia.bio. (n.d.). Changeable hawk-eagle – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio. Retrieved from https://animalia.bio/changeable-hawk-eagle