150. Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)

Verreaux's Eagle is found mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, but there are a few populations further north, in Sinai, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. It is very large with black plumage and white windows on the primary flight feathers, and a pure white rump and distinctive white V or U shape on its back. The juvenile is more colourful, with a rufous nape, pale buff upperwing coverts and underparts with black speckling, and a white trailing edge on the wings and tail. I have chosen this photo to illustrate the wing shape - the exaggeratedly narrow wing base and bulging secondaries are very distinctive. Verreaux's Eagle lives in remote mountainous areas, and also semi-desert and savanna - anywhere it can find its favourite prey, Rock Hyrax.

Verreaux's Eagle, ©Jerry Oldenettel, via Flickr Creative Commons.

Verreaux's Eagle painting.

Not too shabby.