Crowned Eagle
Crowned EagleCrowned EagleCrowned EagleCrowned Eagle

Crowned Eagle

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · Rare
overall probability at Virunga National Park
204 Verified records at Virunga National Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The crowned eagle, also known as the African crowned eagle or the crowned hawk-eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), is a large bird of prey found in sub-Saharan Africa; in Southern Africa, it is restricted to more easterly areas. Its preferred habitats are principally riparian woodlands and various forests. The crowned eagle is the only extant member of the genus Stephanoaetus. A second species, the Malagasy crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus mahery), went extinct after early humans settled on Madagascar. Mammals comprise the majority of the eagle's diet. Principal prey species vary throughout its large range, with monkeys, antelopes, rodents, hyraxes, and viverrids all being notable prey groups. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Crowned Eagle sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 204 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Virunga National Park

Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

20–30% · Possible
Augur Buzzard
LC

Augur Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo augur

20–30% · Possible
African Harrier-Hawk
LC

African Harrier-Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polyboroides typus

10–20% · With luck
African Fish-Eagle
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

10–20% · With luck
Long-crested Eagle
LC

Long-crested Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophaetus occipitalis

10–20% · With luck
Palmnut Vulture
LC

Palmnut Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gypohierax angolensis

10–20% · With luck
Mountain Buzzard
NT

Mountain Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo oreophilus

5–10% · With luck
Bateleur
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

5–10% · With luck
White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

5–10% · With luck
Brown Snake Eagle
LC

Brown Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinereus

<5% · Rare
Banded Snake-Eagle
LC

Banded Snake-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinerascens

<5% · Rare
Lizard Buzzard
LC

Lizard Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
5–10
May
5–10
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
5–10
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
2 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
3 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
4 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
5 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
6 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
7 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
5–10%
8 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
5–10%
9 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
10 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
11 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
<5%
12 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
<5%
13 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
14 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
15 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
16 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
17 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
18 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
<5%
19 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
20 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
21 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
22 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
23 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
24 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
25 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
26 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
27 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
28 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
29 Taï National Park 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
Insufficient data
30 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
31 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
Insufficient data
32 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
33 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
34 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
35 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
36 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
37 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
38 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
39 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
40 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Crowned Eagle in Virunga National Park?

About 5% of wildlife watchers report a Crowned Eagle sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 204 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Crowned Eagle in Virunga National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Crowned Eagle in Virunga National Park in our monthly data.

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