Native to the rift valley lakes of Central and Sub Saharan Africa, African fish eagles, Haliaeetus vocifer, are birds of prey. They are recognized by their hook-shaped beak, rough soles, white head, and dark brown body. Birds of this species are similar to American bald eagles in appearance. They are spread out over most of central Africa and southern Africa, in the countries of South Sudan, Namibia, South Africa, Chad, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is also the national bird of four African countries, appearing on some of their national flags.African fish eagles are the symbol of the African continent due to their vast range and yodeling sounds. There are seven species of fish eagles found in Africa and parts of Asia. The Madagascar fish eagle is another eagle species native to Africa. Other species include the gray-headed fish eagle, Steller’s sea eagle, and the lesser fish eagle. As their name indicates, these birds of prey feed mostly on fish and amphibians. These birds mate for life.Due to their vast population range, African fish eagles are deemed as birds of Least Concern by the IUCN. Read on to learn more facts about the African fish eagle.You may also check out sea eagle facts and steppe eagle facts from Kidadl.
Fun African Fish Eagle Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh? 4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they? 23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they? 19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like? White head, dark brown body
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Rivers And Lakes
Locations South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
African Fish Eagle Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is an African fish eagle?African fish eagles are birds. They are also called African sea eagles.What class of animal does an African fish eagle belong to?The African fish eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer, belongs to the class Aves (birds).How many African fish eagles are there in the world?There are over 300,000 African fish eagles found over the geographical range of Africa and surrounding regions.Where does an African fish eagle live?African fish eagles have an expansive range of habitats that include wetlands, tropical rainforests, and woods. These sea eagles prefer to be around water bodies where large fish are available for food.What is an African fish eagle’s habitat?African sea eagles are found mostly near water bodies such as rift valley lakes, meandering rivers, and estuaries of Sub-Saharan Africa. They prefer to nest on high altitudes where there is food supply. They swoop down over the surface of the water to catch slippery prey in their rough soles. They are also found in South African floodplains, lagoons, swamps, and dams with abundant food supplies. These solitary birds are seen between altitudes of around 4921-13123 ft (1500-4000 m). This eagle species is well-adapted to the Central African climate.Who do African fish eagles live with?African sea eagles are solitary birds of prey. They live and hunt alone. They live in pairs after finding their mate and are also often seen in families of three or four sea eagles. Sometimes non-breeding pairs of African fish eagles are spotted, but the reason is unknown.A group of African fish eagles is called a convocation or aerie.How long does an African fish eagle live?African sea eagles have an average lifespan range of 10-15 years in the wild.How do they reproduce?African fish eagles are solitary birds of prey that only come together for the purpose of breeding. They are monogamous birds that mate for life, much like the bald eagle species. They breed annually and the female lays eggs in nests at high elevations. Both the male and female eagles participate in the building of their nests. Both partners incubate the eggs until the chicks hatch.The breeding season varies according to the climate and geographical range. In parts of Southern Africa, the breeding season ranges between April and October. In eastern African countries, the range can be June to December, and in western Africa, the range can be October to April.The female lays two to three eggs per season, with minor variations in clutch size. The eggs are laid two days apart. The chicks hatch after 40-45 days, and fledging occurs in the next 70 days. After the chick’s hatch, siblicide is a common occurrence, and only one chick survives. Due to this, just 5% of juvenile African fish eagles make it to adulthood.The African fish eagle’s nest is on high elevations, spanning a range of 5 ft (1.5 m) and a depth of 2 ft (0.6 m). The nest is built large so that two adult eagles and their eaglets can fit in without falling off. After the chicks hatch, the parent eagles take turns hunting and feeding them for three months till the eaglets are independent.What is their conservation status?The IUCN has listed the conservation status of African fish eagles as of Least Concern. The estimated population size of the African fish eagle is around 300,000. It is a very common species and has a good distribution throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It is widely spread across Southern and Eastern Africa. These are one of the most famous predatory birds in Africa.The African fish eagle has limited fish sources to eat and experiences land changes on perching or nesting trees. It also encounters changes in aquatic vegetation which change its fishing practices.Biomagnification is the threat posed by pesticides and pollutants on the African fish eagles.African Fish Eagle Fun FactsWhat do African fish eagles look like?The adults of African fish eagles are easily recognizable, large raptors having a pure white head, chest, neck, and tail. They have a chestnut dark brown body and yellow hook-shaped beak. They also have black secondaries as well as primaries. They have long and broad wings and have a fairly short and rounded tail. Their face is yellow and largely bare, their eyes being dark and their feet are yellow. They have rough soles to grip slippery prey in their claws. The adult African fish eagle has a mass ranging from 4-8 lb (2-4 kg) and its length ranges from 24.8-30.3 in (63-77 cm). Females are bulky and larger than males. African fish eagles are larger in the southern parts of Africa.Juveniles are very distinct from adults. The plumage of juveniles is majorly brown and they have white feathers that are scattered in no set pattern. Their chests and tails have white patches. The majority of their body and face is gray, the tail of juveniles is longer than their adult counterparts.How cute are they?African fish eagles are large, wild birds of prey. These birds of prey have sharp hook-shaped beaks and rough soles. They are not cute and can even harm humans.How do they communicate?African fish eagles are known to conduct vocal communication with their own species and also some other Avians to maintain or establish territory. These species, during perching or flight, throw back their heads and generate far-carrying, loud and distinctive calls. Female African fish eagle calls are lower-pitched than the males. The breeding pairs of African fish eagles sing duets. This duetting which happens generally at the start of the breeding season helps to facilitate a close sense of bonding between the pairs.Much like other eagle species, they display aggressive behavior when they feel threatened by intruder animals or birds of prey. The African fish eagles are known to interact and perceive their environment through the stimulus of the auditory, chemical, tactile or visual nature.How big is an African fish eagle?African fish eagle size can range between 23.6-31.5 in (60-80 cm). Birds of this eagle species are more than twice the size of a mourning dove, which is 13.8 in (35 cm).How fast can an African fish eagle fly?The African fish eagle has a speed of 20 mph (32 kph), with which it swoops down on the surface of the water to catch its slippery prey in its rough soles.How much does an African fish eagle weigh?African fish eagles can weigh around 4-8 lb (2-4 kg) depending on their size and sex. Generally, the female is larger than the male.What are the male and female names of the species?Both male and female African fish eagles are addressed by the same name.What would you call a baby African fish eagle?A baby African fish eagle is called a chick or an eaglet.What do they eat?As their name suggests, African fish eagles are birds of prey that rely primarily on fish for their food. They catch slippery prey between the rough soles of their feet by gliding on the surface of the water. They then perch on high altitudes to eat their prey with their hook-shaped beaks. They also eat other species of marine animals such as frogs and other amphibians. They also eat birds found near the sea of water bodies such as storks, ducks, and flamingos. They are also known to prey on monkeys and hyraxes.Are they dangerous?Yes, African fish eagles are dangerous as they are natural birds of prey. They have sharp claws, hook-shaped beaks and are carnivorous predators by nature. They can injure humans with their massive wings, claws, and beaks.Would they make a good pet?No, this and other eagle species are wild and feral predators that cannot be caged or kept as pets. Their habitat and feeding style makes them inconvenient and dangerous as a pet.Did you know…The African fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer has symbolic importance in Africa due to its yodeling sounds and charismatic appearance. One of the unknown facts about the African fish eagle is that it is called the ‘keeper of the waters.’Another interesting fact about the African Sea Eagle is that it is a kleptoparasite and is said to be the Voice of Africa. African fish eagle sounds are very distinctive yodeling calls that echo across the skies. This eagle species has a tendency to steal prey and food from birds of other species, hence the word kleptoparasite. The African sea eagle is not a ‘true’ eagle as it does not belong to the common eagle species. They belong to the genus Haliaeetus, which is an ancient genus of birds. This genus of birds is older than primates.One of the commonly noted facts about the African fish eagle is that these birds are spotted in pairs. This is because they mate for life, indulge in vocal communication, and protect their territories together from other competing birds of prey. These sea eagles also sing duets together in the breeding season.The African Fish Eagle as a national birdThe Haliaeetus vocifer African fish eagle is found in abundance in four countries. These are Zambia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. These countries have African fish eagles as their National birds. The African fish eagle is a feature in the coats of arms of all these countries.Comparisons with similar eaglesAfrican fish eagle vs bald eagle: the main difference between them is that African fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer has a white-colored tail, head, and breast. It has a featherless yellow face. The eyes of the African fish eagle are dark brown in color.The bald eagle has a white neck, head, and tail. Their back and breasts are black-brown in color.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these crested eagle facts and great white pelican facts for kids.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable African fish eagle coloring pages.
What type of animal is an African fish eagle?
African fish eagles are birds. They are also called African sea eagles.
Fun African Fish Eagle Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh? 4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they? 23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they? 19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like? White head, dark brown body
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Rivers And Lakes
Locations South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
Fun African Fish Eagle Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh? 4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they? 23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they? 19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like? White head, dark brown body
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Rivers And Lakes
Locations South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
Fun African Fish Eagle Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh? 4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they? 23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they? 19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like? White head, dark brown body
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Rivers And Lakes
Locations South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
Fun African Fish Eagle Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh? 4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they? 23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they? 19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like? White head, dark brown body
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Rivers And Lakes
Locations South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
What do they prey on? Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh? 4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they? 23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they? 19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like? White head, dark brown body
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Rivers And Lakes
Locations South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
What do they prey on? Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh? 4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they? 23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they? 19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like? White head, dark brown body
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
What do they prey on?
Birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, carrion, mammals
What do they eat?
Carnivore
Average litter size?
1-3 eggs
How much do they weigh?
4-8 lb (2-4 kg)
How long are they?
23-31 in (60-80 cm)
How tall are they?
19-27 in (50-70 cm)
What do they look like?
White head, dark brown body
Skin Type
Feathers
What were their main threats?
Humans, Scarcity Of Food Supply, Biomagnification
What is their conservation status?
Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Rivers And Lakes
Locations South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
Where you’ll find them?
Rivers And Lakes
Locations
South Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Central Africa, Nigeria, South Sudan, Zambia, Congo
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Haliaeetus
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Haliaeetus
Class Aves
Family Accipitridae
