Which African eagle specializes in hunting rock hyraxes?

Verreaux's eagle specializes in hunting rock hyraxes.

The rock hyrax is a small, stocky mammal that lives among cliffs and rocky outcrops in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Verreaux’s eagle is exceptionally adapted to hunt it, using powerful feet and long talons to seize hyraxes from steep terrain.

The eagle’s dark plumage and distinctive white markings on the back and wings make it recognizable in flight. It often patrols rugged landscapes, where cliffs provide both nesting ledges and hunting habitat.

Rock hyraxes are not its only prey. The eagle may also take monkeys, hares, birds, reptiles, and other mammals. However, its close ecological association with hyrax colonies is one of the clearest examples of specialization among large African eagles.