The African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is a common resident in South Africa.
The Fish Eagle is quite an eye catching bird of prey and is usually identified by the white on the head and upper part of the body, with a small patch of yellow facial skin from the eye to the beak.
The scapulars, back and rump of the bird are blackish brown in colour. The tail is white, and is not visible when the wings are folded. They have big, sharp claws that are used to tear meat from their prey. Males and females have the same plumage. Juveniles can take 5 years to reach the adult plumage.
Dominating the skies, these eagles have a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres, and can weigh about 3kgs. That's pretty massive for a bird! Strangely enough, the female is often larger than the male.
The African Fish Eagle has one of the most distinctive calls of all birds, and the call is sometimes known as 'the call of the African Wilderness'. These beautiful creatures often call during dawn and dusk, and if you have been lucky enough to hear the echoing calls you should know the 'weee-ah hyo-hyo-hyo' sound that they make in duet. When they call, whether they are flying or perched on their nest, these eagles fling their heads back.
These large birds are usually found in pairs and they spend a lot of their time perched in trees along water courses. It is from these trees that the Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) watches for prey and waits for the opportune moment to strike.
During times of day paired birds soar high over their territory and often call whilst soaring. These paired birds live all year-round in territories on large rivers, lakes and lagoons.
Did you know? When it comes to foraging the African Fish Eagle specialises in catching fish 150-300mm below water with a graceful sweeping dive. Fish of up to 3kg are caught. But the Fish Eagle, however striking the title, does not only prey on fish but also scavenges at carcasses, robs nestlings, and catches ducks, waterfowl and other birds like the Red-knobbed Coot, Reed Cormorant and African Darter. They can also catch rodents and reptiles, like the Monitor Lizard. Sometimes they even catch mammals like the Hyraxes and Vervet Monkeys. These eagles are also quite cheeky and often steals fish from other birds like pelicans, Goliath Herons and Saddle-billed Storks.
