Fisherman's eagle | Facts & Information

Origin

With the exception of the sedentary populations of Australia, the Caribbean, North Africa and the Mediterranean basin, the angling Eagle is a predominantly Migratory Bird.

After mating season, the northern population migrates south, often traveling long distances along the equator, to spend the Australian summer.

Feeding The Fisherman's Eagle

Also known as the" Fish Hawk", the fish eagle exhibits several adaptations to hunting and eating fish, including oily and dense plumage, large feet, scaly soles, and reversible outside claws that help carry prey through the air.

Pandion haliaetus feeds almost exclusively on fish and occasionally other prey, such as: small mammals, wounded birds, reptiles, amphibians and crustaceans.

In the process of catching prey, the eagle flies hovering or in circles above the water, at moderate Heights, throwing its legs first; sometimes it dives altogether into the water.

It captures and transports prey with the help of its long claws, then descends into open ground or an empty surface of land and eats it piece by piece.

Features Fisherman's Eagle

The plumage of the angling Eagle is usually brown on the upper parts and white on the lower parts of the body, the head is whitish and has a dark stripe along each eye. The wings are long and sharp, and the legs are very solid, rough and heavy.

Young specimens are approximately similar to adults, but their head is darker in color, the upper parts of the body are furrowed by spots in shades of beige and pale copper.

There are four subspecies of angling Eagles known in the world, each of which occupies different habitat areas and is slightly different in size and appearance from the others: Pandion haliaetus haliaetus, P. h. carolinensis, P. h. cristatus and P. h. ridgwayi.

Breeding Angler Eagle

Although it can usually be observed alone or in pairs, in some parts of its habitat the angling Eagle is a vaguely colonial bird.

During the mating season, pairs form at the nesting site, following an impressive ritual.

The main show involves the slow flight of the male over the area where the Nest will be located, flight accompanied by screams; all the while the Eagle carries between its claws a fish or materials necessary to build the nest.

The generous nest is raised close to the ground or at a height: in a tree, on a rock, on a rocky hill or even on a ruined building. The female lays two to four eggs here, which she hatches for 35-38 days.

After hatching, the female feeds her young, while the male goes in search of food, which she brings back to the nest.

Young Eagles can take flight after they turn one and a half to two months, but remain dependent on their parents for another 2 or 3 months, after which they leave them permanently.