The giant eagle-owl is a generalist nocturnal predator, and will consume a large variety of animals. Hedgehogs are the preferred prey of adults, but the giant eagle owl will also prey upon fish, amphibians, reptiles, rodents and other large birds, such as flamingos, herons, raptors and even other eagle-owl species (5) (10). This dominating predator hunts from a perch, using its acute eyesight to spot prey, before silently gliding towards the ground and seizing the target in its powerful talons (10). The giant eagle-owl will also wade into water to catch fish, and demonstrates great agility by catching small birds in the air (10) (11).
The timing of the breeding season varies between localities, but occurs approximately between May and October, peaking between June and September (10). The giant eagle-owl usually nests in old stick nests constructed by other large bird species, such as the hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) and the secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius), but will occasionally nest in tree cavities or tangles of creepers and orchids (9) (10). There is much variation in the frequency of breeding, with some pairs breeding yearly, while others breed much more inconsistently (9). A pair of eggs are laid, and are incubated solely by the female for some 38 days, but only one chick will survive beyond two weeks, as the adults preferentially feed only one (5). The single offspring will leave the nest after around nine weeks, but remains dependant on its parents for the first six months of its life, and can remain with its parents until up to two years of age (4).