African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

African Fish Eagle

This species of eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer, is a large bird; the female, at 3.2 to 3.6 kilogrammes, - as characteristic of birds of prey - being larger than the male, at 2.0 to 2.5 kilogrammes. Males usually have wingspans around 2 metres, while females have wingspans of 2.4 metres. The body length is 63 to 75 centimetres.

The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body and large, black wings. The head, breast, and tail of African fish eagles are snow white, with the exception of the featherless face, which is yellow. The eyes are dark brown in colour. The hook-shaped beak is yellow with a black tip. The plumage of the juvenile is brown in colour, and the eyes are paler compared to the adult. With its white head this species may resemble the bald eagle in appearance; though related, each species occurs on different continents, with the bald eagle being resident in North America.

The African fish eagle is found in Africa, ranging over most of continental Africa south of the Sahara Desert, wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. They are quite common near freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, and can sometimes be found near the coast at the mouths of rivers or lagoons. Examples of places where they may be resident include the Orange River in South Africa and Namibia, the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and Lake Malawi bordering Malawi.

The birds are believed to mate for life. They breed during the dry season, when water levels are low. Pairs often maintain two or more nests, placed in a large tree and built mostly of sticks and other pieces of wood. The nests are frequently reused and therefore can grow quite large, some reaching 2 metres across and 1.2 metres deep. The female lays one to three eggs, which are primarily white with a few reddish speckles. Incubation is mostly done by the female, lasting for 42 to 45 days. Chicks fledge around 70 to 75 days old. Postfledgling dependence lasts up to three months, whereafter the juveniles become nomadic, and may congregate in groups away from territorial adults.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_fish_eagle - 24.10.2017

African Fish Eagle

This African bird of prey is to be distinguished well from the bald eagle. Amongst others, here the breast and back are white at the top and the beak's tip is grey instead of yellow.

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