African Fish Eagle
by Mark Homann, certified safari guide
One of Africa’s most striking and easily recognizable eagles is the African fish eagle. Similar in its appearance to America’s Bald Eagle, the fish eagle’s white mantle, head, and breast are offset by a chestnut abdomen and black under parts. These birds have a hauntingly beautiful call that is synonyms with Africa’s wild places and can be seen on African safari tours. With long claws that allow them to grasp fish, they are almost always found near water and are masters at fishing. Their broad wings help them to soar in the lightest breeze, and provide maximum power to lift fish out of the water.
The African fish eagle catches most of its fish between 5 to 12 inches in the water and has been known to catch fish as heavy as itself at about 8 pounds—although it’s more likely to catch fish smaller than this. Short fishing trips are conducted from a perch or on the wing. They will locate fish by sight although there is evidence that they can also find their prey from splashing sounds. While mainly a fish eating bird, they have been recorded hunting flamingoes and feeding on carrion.
These birds will often call in duet as a way to maintain their pair bond and mark their territories. They are most vocal during the mating season when the male will fly high above his mate and then dive back down towards her. As he approaches her, she will turn on her back offering her talons to his.
Nesting in tall trees in the canopy, the African fish eagle’s nest is a flat-topped structure that’s about 45 inches deep and 60 inches across. One to three white eggs, occasionally marked with red, are laid and then incubated by both the male and female for a period of approximately 45 days. Occasionally, two chicks will leave the nest but the survival of only one is the norm. The nestlings begin to leave the nest within 75 days and will not gain their adult plumage until they are 5 years-old.
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