SUPPLEMENTARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE BREEDING BIOLOGY OF THE BOOTED EAGLE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Summary

Steyn, P. & Grobler, J. H. 1985. Supplementary observations on the breeding biology of the Booted Eagle in Southern Africa. Ostrich 56:151-156

Further observations on the biology of the Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus in southern Africa are presented. Several nest sites in trees are described, and details of behaviour during the incubation and early nestling period are given. The down colour of nestlings is discussed. One juvenile returned to its natal area the following breeding season. In ninepair-years the replacement rate was 1,0 young/pair/year. Prey records confirm that birds predominate. The implications of the recent discovery of breeding in mid-winter in Namibia are discussed; there may be three Booted Eagle populations in southern Africa.