Verreaux’s Giant Eagle Owl Facts

As owls go, the Verreaux’s Eagle Owl is up there with the biggest and heaviest of all of the owls. This is the Milky (lacteus) Eagle Owl from south of the Sahara in Africa. It is also known as the Giant Eagle Owl.

This bird is named after Jules Pierre Verreaux, a member of a noted French family of collectors and taxidermists. Verreaux first travelled to Africa with his uncle in 1818 when he was just 11 years old.

Like eagles, it kills larger prey by a combination of its immensely powerful grip, huge razor-sharp talons and the sheer power of its strike. The powerfully muscled legs, backed up by the weight and momentum of this great owl, pack a massive punch.

At other times it has been seen to crash through branches and dense bush sending roosting birds fleeing through the night. On such raids, it will catch a variety of birds, including a range of other owls and even the eagles that hunt in the same area by day. Almost nothing is safe from a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl.

But these are truly wonderful owls. Whole families, some with chicks from up to three years before have been found roosting together. A remarkable trait for such a large owl.

But these huge predators are facing many challenges on the African continent. The outlook for this splendid owl will depend on its ability to adapt to these changing circumstances and the willingness of its human neighbours to allow it to do so.