Verreaux's Eagle-Owl - Breeding

Breeding

Breeding takes place from March to September. The monogamous pair defends their territory by their song and sometimes (though rarely) through duets. Usually breeding occurs every year but, when food densities are low, may occur only ever 2 or 3 years. They may use a variety of sites for nesting, including old weaver, Hamerkop, Secretarybird or other raptor nests the size of huge platiform nests constructed by Old World vultures. It may occasionally nest also in tree cavities or on very dense tangles of creepers or orchids. The female lays two white eggs, which typically measure 62.6 mm × 51.4 mm (2.46 in × 2.02 in) and weigh 93–101.6 g (3.3–3.58 oz) and are laid at up to 7 day intervals. She incubates the eggs for 33 to 39 days. She remains on the nest for the entire incubation period while the male hunts for food for both of them.

Upon hatching, the new young weigh 60–70 g (2.1–2.5 oz) and almost right away have apparent pink eyelids. The first egg to hatch is the first to be fed, and if food is not plentiful only, the second chick often starves to death. If food is abundant, both owlets will be fed and may survive. The female broods the chicks consistently for 20 days. Intruding animals who get too close to the nest are attacked. The chicks are ready to leave the nest at around 63 days of age but only fly well around 2 weeks after this. The fledgings are hidden and rather inactive for around 3 months, only starting to catch their own prey at around 5 months. Some young may remain with their parents for up to 2 years. Sexual maturity is reached at 3 to 4 years of age. There is little data on longevity in wild adults, although captive ones have lived for up to 15 years.