African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer - The birds of prey site of Robert Goedegebuur

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African Fish Eagle

English name African Fish Eagle

Scientific name Haliaeetus vocifer

Dutch name Afrikaanse zeearend / Rivierarend

Family Accipitridae - Hawks, Eagles and Kites

Subfamily Buteoninae

Length 63 - 75 cm

Span Female 237 cm
Male 191 cm

Weigth Female 3170-3630 gram
Male 1986-2497 gram

Voice Loud yelping WHOW-kayow-kwow; highly vocal

Length of life not available yet

Range Africa south of Sahara.
throughout South Africa, except most of Little Namaqualand, northwest Cape and south Namibia.

Habitat Larger rivers, lakes, pans and dams, usually with large trees;
also coastal lagoons and estuaries.

Prey Mainly fish up to 1 kg weight, less often up to 3 kg;
maximum weight of live fish caught about 3,7 kg, but fish of over 2,5 kg not carried in flight, but planed along surface of water to shore.
Also eats carrion, nestlings and eggs of waterbirds and queleas,
some adult waterbirds (up to size of flamingo);
rarely dassies, monkeys, monitor lizards, frogs, terrapins, insects.

Lay eggs in Season: March to September in South Africa (peak June-August), January to October in Zimbabwe (mainly April-July).
Nest: Large pile of sticks, 120-180 cm diameter, 30-60 cm thick (up to 120 cm after long use); bowl lined with grass, green leaves and reeds; (37 nests) 4-13-22 m above gound in fork of tree near water; less often on cliff ledge, or low bush on steep slope.

Number of eggs 1 - 3 (usually 2)
Plain white, rarely with reddish markings, usually nest-stained;

Size of egg 70,3 x 53,7 mm, weigh about 120 gram

Sit on eggs About 42-45 days by both sexes

Time to fly out 70-75 days, fed mostly by female; male feeds small nestlings only;
usually only 1 or 2 young survive;
dependent on parents up to 60 days after first flight.

Identification Adult:
Size large;
body and wings dark, contrasting with white head and tail;
belly and upperwing coverts dark chestnut;
wings and back black; in flight underwing chestnut, remiges black;
tail short, square, white; head white.
Bare Parts: Iris hazel to pale brown; bill black; cere, lores, legs and feet yellow.
Immature:
Above dull mottled brown;
below mostly whitish with heavy blackish blotching on belly, streaking on chest;
tail white, broadly tipped black;
underwing white in front, mostly black on remiges with whitish windows;
adult plumage attained in more than 5 years.
Chick:
Downy white; bill horn; cere pale yellow; legs pink.

Remark 1 Usually in pairs.
Perches for hours (85-95% of daylight) on tall trees near water;
Also soars; often calls in flight. Most vocal at dawn.

Remark 2 Hunts from perch, stooping at fish, catching them with feet, usually within 15 cm of surface, without checking flight;
may submerge at times; more rarely hunts while soaring;

Remark 3 Robs other fish-eating birds of their prey

Remark 4 Raids colonies of nesting waterbirds for young and eggs

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English name	African Fish Eagle
Scientific name	Haliaeetus vocifer
Dutch name	Afrikaanse zeearend / Rivierarend
Family	Accipitridae - Hawks, Eagles and Kites
Subfamily	Buteoninae
Length	63 - 75 cm
Span	Female 237 cm Male 191 cm
Weigth	Female 3170-3630 gram Male 1986-2497 gram
Voice	Loud yelping WHOW-kayow-kwow; highly vocal
Length of life	not available yet
Range	Africa south of Sahara. throughout South Africa, except most of Little Namaqualand, northwest Cape and south Namibia.
Habitat	Larger rivers, lakes, pans and dams, usually with large trees; also coastal lagoons and estuaries.
Prey	Mainly fish up to 1 kg weight, less often up to 3 kg; maximum weight of live fish caught about 3,7 kg, but fish of over 2,5 kg not carried in flight, but planed along surface of water to shore. Also eats carrion, nestlings and eggs of waterbirds and queleas, some adult waterbirds (up to size of flamingo); rarely dassies, monkeys, monitor lizards, frogs, terrapins, insects.
Lay eggs in	Season: March to September in South Africa (peak June-August), January to October in Zimbabwe (mainly April-July). Nest: Large pile of sticks, 120-180 cm diameter, 30-60 cm thick (up to 120 cm after long use); bowl lined with grass, green leaves and reeds; (37 nests) 4-13-22 m above gound in fork of tree near water; less often on cliff ledge, or low bush on steep slope.
Number of eggs	1 - 3 (usually 2) Plain white, rarely with reddish markings, usually nest-stained;
Size of egg	70,3 x 53,7 mm, weigh about 120 gram
Sit on eggs	About 42-45 days by both sexes
Time to fly out	70-75 days, fed mostly by female; male feeds small nestlings only; usually only 1 or 2 young survive; dependent on parents up to 60 days after first flight.
Identification	Adult: Size large; body and wings dark, contrasting with white head and tail; belly and upperwing coverts dark chestnut; wings and back black; in flight underwing chestnut, remiges black; tail short, square, white; head white. Bare Parts: Iris hazel to pale brown; bill black; cere, lores, legs and feet yellow. Immature: Above dull mottled brown; below mostly whitish with heavy blackish blotching on belly, streaking on chest; tail white, broadly tipped black; underwing white in front, mostly black on remiges with whitish windows; adult plumage attained in more than 5 years. Chick: Downy white; bill horn; cere pale yellow; legs pink.
Remark 1	Usually in pairs. Perches for hours (85-95% of daylight) on tall trees near water; Also soars; often calls in flight. Most vocal at dawn.
Remark 2	Hunts from perch, stooping at fish, catching them with feet, usually within 15 cm of surface, without checking flight; may submerge at times; more rarely hunts while soaring;
Remark 3	Robs other fish-eating birds of their prey
Remark 4	Raids colonies of nesting waterbirds for young and eggs