Bird Fact Sheet: African Fish Eagle

_{The African Fish Eagle(Haliaeetus vocifer), also known as the African Sea Eagle is a bird of prey that is classified in the order Accipitriformes, and the family Accipitridae. The African Fish Eagle has been nicknamed the “voice of Africa” because its loud, distinctive call can be heard for miles.}

Physical Characteristics

An Adult African Fish Eagle has a white head, and white breast. Its back is black, and its belly, thighs, and “shoulders” are chestnut in color. An Adult’s irises are yellow-brown to hazel, its cere is yellow, and its bill is blackish, the feet are fleshy-white to yellow.

_Length	_{63-75 cm(2’0.8″-2’5.5″)}
_Wingspan	_{1.7-2.1 m(5’6.6″-6’10.7″)}
_Weight	_{1.9-3.6 kg(4.2-7.9 lbs.)}

_{*The female is larger than the male.}

Range

African Fish Eagles are found throughout most of Africa.

Habitat

The African Fish Eagle lives near lakes, rivers, and swamps.

Breeding

The courtship ritual of African Fish Eagles involve the pair meeting in mid-air; they lock their talons, and free-fall until they separate just above the ground. They do this repeatedly until they mate. African Fish Eagles build a stick nest usually in the fork of a tree as close to water as possible. sometimes this species may build its nest on a cliff or steep slope. The clutch of 1-4 eggs are incubated for 42-45 days. The chicks have white down.

Diet

The African Fish Eagle eats primarily fish, but also eats; carrion, waterbirds, mammals, reptiles, frogs, and insects.

Conservation Status

The African Fish Eagle is listed as least concern.

Fun Facts

African Fish Eagles sometimes build their nests as high as 35 m(114 feet, 9.10 inches) above the ground; the nest can also reach 1.8 meters(5 feet, 10.9 inches) across and 1.2 meters(3 feet, 11.2 inches) deep.
Just like the Osprey(Pandion haliaetus), the African Fish Eagle has barbs on its talons that help it hold slippery fish. Unlike the Osprey the African Fish Eagle does not enter the water as it strikes.
African Fish Eagles use the same nest every year.
The African Fish Eagle is the national bird of Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The African Fish Eagle can live for up to 24 years.