Eagles known as hunting specialists surprise researchers by feeding on goat carcass

Eagles are symbols of hunting prowess. Known as top predators wherever they live, it is often assumed that killing is their primary mode. However, a new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research reports the first confirmed case of sustained carrion use by Verreaux’s Eagles (Aquila verreauxii) in the Arabian Peninsula, suggesting that the species’ diet may be more adaptable than previously realized. At a time when food webs are shifting and habitat health is in constant jeopardy, evidence of flexibility in top predators bolsters our understanding of how raptors can or cannot adapt to their changing environment. 

Verreaux’s Eagles are highly specialized predators that feed on two species of herbivorous mammals called Rock Hyraxes (Procavia capensis and Heterohyrax brucei). This study took place in Saudi Arabia, where the arid landscape and accompanying heat result in periods of low prey availability. In December of 2024, researchers from CIBIO-BIOPOLIS, Portugal, established a network of bait stations across the AlUla region in the northwestern part of the country, using goat carcasses to assess scavenger activity. Less than an hour after carcass deployment, two Verreaux’s Eagles appeared. Three cameras were installed around a carcass, and the footage was thoroughly reviewed to investigate timing, frequency, and duration of visits to the carcass as well as interactions between species. Lead author on the paper Bruno Martins, from CIBIO-BIOPOLIS says the team was surprised at how much time the eagles spent with the carcass — with one individual remaining there for more than nine consecutive hours. “For a species so strongly associated with active predation on rock hyraxes, that degree of sustained carrion use was particularly unexpected,” he says.

Scavenging by this eagle species had previously been reported in a limited number of studies from Africa but remained poorly documented and had never been confirmed in the Arabian Peninsula. The results of this study frame new questions — is this behavior merely opportunistic, or does it suggest a revised categorization of the species’ dietary habits? And if Verreaux’s Eagles are secret scavengers, what about other eagles? It is possible that scavenging simply supplements diet when there are few Hyraxes available, but more research is needed to determine the context of this behavior. Closely related African Hawk-Eagles (Aquila spilogaster) and Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are also opportunistic scavengers, and understanding the relative flexibility of these species to adopt different foraging tactics could inform conservation efforts moving forward. As Martins says, “confirming that Verreaux’s Eagles can make sustained use of carrion has implications for how we think about both risks and opportunities for the species.”

Interestingly, while the eagles were present at the goat carcass, other scavengers gave a wide berth. The study site is known to host vultures and several other raptor species, as well as foxes, wolves, and Brown-necked Ravens (Corvus ruficollis), the latter of which were present, but skillfully avoided altercations with the eagles. The canine scavengers did visit the carcass, but only at night. These observations suggest that the presence of Verreaux’s Eagles may influence how other scavengers use a carcass, although further research is needed to understand these interactions.  

The authors suggest expanding camera-based monitoring across seasons and locations and coupling this with research on prey and localized eagle movements to better highlight the context of this observation. Poisoning is a known conservation threat to the health of eagle populations worldwide, with sources that include predator control campaigns and contaminated livestock carcasses. This study highlights the importance of investigating these sources of poison within the range of the Verreaux’s Eagle, particularly now that scavenging has been confirmed in the species in the Arabian Peninsula.  

###

Paper:

Martins et al. (2026). Scavenging Behavior of Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) in Saudi Arabia: Evidence of a Foraging Shift. Journal of Raptor Research, 60(3):1-8. 
DOI: 10.3356/jrr26003

Notes to Editor:

1. The Journal of Raptor Research (JRR) is an international scientific journal dedicated entirely to the dissemination of information about birds of prey. Established in 1967, JRR has published peer-reviewed research on raptor ecology, behavior, life history, conservation, and techniques. JRR is available quarterly to members in electronic and paper format.

2. The Raptor Research Foundation (RRF) is the world’s largest professional society for raptor researchers and conservationists. Founded in 1966 as a non-profit organization, our primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors. The Foundation organizes annual scientific conferences and provides competitive grants and awards for student researchers and conservationists. The Foundation also provides support and networking opportunities for students and early career raptor researchers.