Black Eagle and Falcon Have Dogfight for Pigeon
The “Black Eagles” mentioned in this sighting are actually a famous breeding pair of Verreaux’s Eagles, known locally by the names Makatsa (female) and Mahlori (male). This pair nests on cliffs at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden (Roodekrans) near Johannesburg. Birders recently noted that Makatsa and Mahlori appear to be incubating at least one egg, marking another successful breeding season!
Content by Naomi Corinaldi
For the peregrine falcon, the story started out as being typical. These birds are renowned for their ability to hunt medium-sized birds like pigeons, doves, and shorebirds. Their primary hunting strategy is a high-speed dive, called a stoop, during which they can reach speeds of over 300 km/h (186 mph), making them the fastest animals on Earth. Urban-based peregrines, in particular, often specialise in catching pigeons, since they’re abundant in cityscapes and open rocky areas.
In this particular incident, experienced photographer Mohammed Jinnah, committed to making it to the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, in hopes of catching the black eagles.
”I got to Walter Sisulu Gardens at 7.30 am this morning. It was bitterly cold with a strong wind. I was warmly clad, which gave me much-needed protection from the cold, gusty wind. However, my eyes watered as the wind hit my face.”
“I braved the wind and walked towards the waterfall. My mood changed for the better when I was greeted by the Strawberry Moon on my way to the waterfalls. I sensed it would be a wonderful day. It was, and I saw some eagle behaviour I had never seen before”
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
“A Peregrine Falcon flew in with what looked like a dove, catching me off guard. I saw it land on a ledge, and then it started enjoying it’s breakfast.”
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
The Peregrine Falcon initially caught the pigeon and then flew off to a separate rocky outcrop, deliberately away from its partner. This kind of behavior is common among raptors that want to eat or handle prey without interference from a mate or rival. It was likely trying to find a quiet perch to start feeding on the bird.
But just as it reached that rock, Mahlori (the male Verreaux’s eagle) entered the scene. He must have been watching the falcon or spotted the commotion. Mahlori launched a bold and aggressive aerial move, intercepting the falcon just as it had just landed. Mahlori snatched the pigeon, and the falcon, being much smaller, was forced to move off.
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
After Mahlori, the male Verreaux’s Eagle, stole the pigeon from the Peregrine Falcon, he flew off with it in his talons. But the Peregrine didn’t give up easily. Furious at losing its catch, it went after Mahlori, chasing him through the air and dive-bombing him in classic falcon fashion.
Mahlori, despite being much larger and stronger, is not as agile or fast as a Peregrine, especially in tight pursuit. Under pressure and likely keen to protect both himself and the stolen prize, he made a beeline back to the safety of his nest ledge, where Makatsa, his mate, was waiting. The nest offered protection and a strategic advantage of being on a cliff face, where maneuvering becomes more difficult for a smaller bird like the falcon.
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
Content by Mohammed Jinnah
In the end, the Peregrine Falcon had no choice but to give up. Mahlori had already reached the safety of his territory. On his cliff ledge and nest site, the falcon couldn’t safely follow or press the attack without risking injury or losing the advantage of speed and maneuverability.
So, in the end, Mahlori won the prize but the little falcon didn’t go down passively. It fought back in the air and reminded the eagle that stealing comes with consequences, even if just in the form of a fast, relentless chase. In that sense, the falcon absolutely had a say in how the story played out.
Content by Mohammed Jinnah