African fisherman's eagle | Facts & Information

Origin

The characteristics of this species are: head with white plumage, wings, beak and dark claws and part of the white tail.

Feeding the African fisherman's Eagle

The species Haliaeetus vocifer feeds mainly on fish. The African angler Eagle follows its prey by sitting on tree branches and then, after careful observation, pounces, plunging, on it, and snatches it with the help of claws.

After "fishing", the bird retreats to the place of observation to feed. If he hunts fish heavier than he can carry (over 1.8 kg), then he drags them on the surface of the water, "pedaling" from the wings with prey in claws, until he reaches the shore where he will feed.

The body of the Eagle is adapted to this activity, so that under the fingers it shows some sharp scales, which help it to retain slippery prey.

The African fisherman also feeds on baby crocodiles or small turtles.

Features African fisherman's Eagle

An interesting thing is that the female eagle is larger in size than the male, having between 3.2 – 3.6 kg. compared to 2 – 2.5 how much the Eagle weighs.

The wingspan is 2 m. in males, while in females it is 2.4 m.

The average body length is 63-75 cm. The species is distinguished by both dark brown plumage and strong, black wings.

The head, chest and tail of the African Eagle are white, and the hook-shaped beak is yellow with a black tip.

Breeding african angler Eagle

Breeding occurs in dry seasons, when water levels are low.

It is assumed that these eagles mate for life, and the pairs can sustain up to two to three nests, which they reuse annually.

They can reach very large sizes, over the years, precisely due to reuse (2 m in diagonal and 1.2 m in depth).

The female lays between 1-3 eggs, white, sprinkled in places with reddish spots, which she generally hatches alone.

The male can come to her aid, then she is away hunting. Incubation lasts between 42 and 45 days, before the chicks hatch.

The chicks hatch successively, a few days apart, and the largest of them will almost always kill the smaller ones.

The chicks are able to feed on their own after 8 weeks and will begin their journey outside the nest after another 2 weeks.