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| {{Short description|Species of bird}} | {{Short description|Species of bird}} | ||
| =.= | |||
| {{Speciesbox | |||
| | name = African fish eagle | |||
| | image = African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) Ethiopia.jpg | |||
| | image_caption = ], ] | |||
| | image2 = African Fish Eagle AdF.jpg | |||
| | image2_caption = Lake Mburo, ] | |||
| | status = LC | |||
| | status_system = IUCN3.1 | |||
| | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2020 |title=''Haliaeetus vocifer'' |volume=2020 |page=e.T22695115A174556979 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22695115A174556979.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | |||
| | genus = Haliaeetus | |||
| | species = vocifer | |||
| | authority = (], 1800) | |||
| }} | |||
| ], December 2021''']] | |||
| The '''African fish eagle''' (''Haliaeetus vocifer'')<ref>Etymology: ''Haliaeetus'', ] for "sea eagle", ''vocifer'', from ] ''vox'', "voice" + ''-fer'', one who bears something, in allusion to the conspicuous yelping calls. These are, when sitting, given with the head fully thrown to the back, a peculiarity found among sea eagles only in this and the ] species.</ref> or the '''African sea eagle''', is a large species of ] found throughout ] wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the ] of ], ], and ]. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birds.com/species/a-b/african-fish-eagle/ |title=African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) - Birds.com: Online Birds Guide with Facts, Articles, Videos, and Photos |publisher=Birds.com |access-date=2012-12-12}}</ref> Examples of names include: ''nkwazi'' in ], ''aigle pêcheur'' in ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkive.org/african-fish-eagle/haliaeetus-vocifer/ |title=African Fish Eagle videos, photos and facts - Haliaeetus vocifer |publisher=ARKive |access-date=2012-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227112542/http://www.arkive.org/african-fish-eagle/haliaeetus-vocifer/ |archive-date=2012-12-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''hungwe'' in ], ''inkwazi'' in ], and ''ntšhu'' (pronounced "ntjhu") in Northern Sotho. This species may resemble the ] in appearance; though related, each species occurs on different continents, with the bald eagle being resident in North America. | |||
| ==Taxonomy== | |||
| The African fish eagle is a species placed in the genus ''Haliaeetus'' (]s). Its closest relative appears to be the ] ] (''H. vociferoides''). Like all sea eagle ]s, this one consists of a white-headed species (the African fish eagle) and a tan-headed one (Madagascar fish eagle). These are an ancient lineage of sea eagles, and as such, have dark talons, beaks, and eyes<ref>{{cite journal| last1 = Wink | first1 = M.| last2 = Heidrich | first2 = P.| last3 = Fentzloff | first3 = C.| year = 1996| doi = 10.1016/S0305-1978(96)00049-X| title = A mtDNA phylogeny of sea eagles (genus ''Haliaeetus'') based on nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome ''b'' gene| journal = Biochemical Systematics and Ecology| volume = 24| issue = 7–8| pages = 783–791| url = http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/institute/fak14/ipmb/phazb/pubwink/1996/20_1996.pdf}}</ref> Both species have at least partially white tails even as juveniles. The scientific name is derived from ''Haliaeetus'', ] for "sea eagle" (from the ] ''haliaetos''), and ''vocifer'' is derived from its original genus name, so named by the French naturalist ], who called it 'the vociferous one'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fourie|first=Pieter J|title=Media Studies: Policy, Management and Media Representation|year=2010|publisher=Juta and Company Ltd.|isbn=978-0-7021-7675-3|page=370}}</ref> | |||
| == Description == | |||
| The African fish eagle is a large bird. The female, at {{convert|3.2|-|3.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} is larger than the male, at {{convert|2.0|-|2.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. This is typical ] in birds of prey. Males usually have wingspans around {{convert|2.0|m|ft|abbr=on}}, while females have wingspans of {{convert|2.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The body length is {{convert|63|–|75|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}}. The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body with a white head like the bald eagle and large, powerful, 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, ideal for a carnivorous lifestyle, is yellow with a black tip. The ] of the juvenile is brown in colour, and the eyes are paler compared to the adult. The feet have rough soles and are equipped with powerful talons to enable the eagle to grasp slippery aquatic prey. While this species mainly subsists on fish, it is opportunistic and may take a wider variety of prey such as waterbirds. Its distinctive cry is, for many, evocative of the spirit or essence of Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wilkinsonsworld.com/tag/african-fish-eagle/|title=African fish eagle - Wilkinson's World|website=www.wilkinsonsworld.com|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="thebookingcompany1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookingcompany.net/botswana/birds-botswana/fish-eagle|title=Fish Eagle|publisher=The Booking Company|access-date=2012-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325191626/http://www.thebookingcompany.net/botswana/birds-botswana/fish-eagle|archive-date=2012-03-25|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://artofthewildrogerbrown.blogspot.com/2011/05/cry-of-african-fish-eagle.html |title=Art Of The Wild by Roger Brown.: Cry of the African Fish Eagle |publisher=Artofthewildrogerbrown.blogspot.com |date=2011-05-10 |access-date=2012-12-12}}</ref> The call, shriller when uttered by males, is a ''weee-ah, hyo-hyo'' or a ''heee-ah, heeah-heeah''.<ref name="thebookingcompany1"/> | |||
| ==Distribution and habitat== | |||
| This species is still quite common near freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers, although it can sometimes be found near the coast at the mouths of rivers or lagoons. African fish eagles are indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, ranging over most of continental Africa south of the ]. Several examples of places where they may be resident include the ] in ] and ], the ] in ], and ] bordering ], ], and ]. The African fish eagle is thought to occur in substantial numbers around the locations of ] and other large lakes in central Africa, particularly the Rift Valley lakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/birds_african_fish_eagle.htm |title=African Fish Eagle {Haliaeetus vocifer} |publisher=Sa-venues.com |access-date=2012-12-12}}</ref> This is a generalist species, requiring only open water with sufficient prey and a good perch, as evidenced by the number of habitat types in which this species may be found, including ], ]s, ]es, ], ], and even desert-bordering coastlines,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/African_Fish_Eagle |title=BBC Nature - African fish eagle videos, news and facts |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1970-01-01 |access-date=2012-12-12}}</ref> such as that of Namibia. The African fish eagle is absent from arid areas with little surface water. | |||
| == Reproduction == | |||
| African fish eagles breed during the ], when water levels are low. They are believed to ].<ref name="eol">{{cite web |last1=Wildscreen |title=African Fish Eagle |url=http://eol.org/pages/914530/details |website=eol.org |publisher=Encyclopedia of Life |access-date=11 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="orb">{{cite web |last1=Orban |first1=David |title=Haliaeetus vocifer African fish eagle |url=http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Haliaeetus_vocifer/ |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=11 April 2016}}</ref> Pairs often maintain two or more nests, which they frequently reuse. Because nests are reused and built upon over the years, they can grow quite large, some reaching 2.0 m (6.5 ft) across and {{convert|1.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} deep. The nests are placed in a large tree and are built mostly of sticks and other pieces of wood. | |||
| The female lays one to three eggs, which are primarily white with a few reddish speckles. Incubation is mostly done by the female, but the male incubates when the female leaves to hunt. Incubation lasts for 42 to 45 days before the chicks hatch. ] does not normally occur in this taxon, and the parents often successfully rear two or three chicks.<ref name="ewt">{{cite book |last1=Botha |first1=André |title=Eagles and Farmers |url=https://www.ewt.org.za/eBooks/booklets/Eagles%20and%20Farmers%20booklet.pdf |website=ewt.org.za |publisher=Birds of Prey Programme, Endangered Wildlife Trust |isbn=978-0-620-11147-8 |date=2012 |access-date=11 April 2016 |display-authors=etal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218124650/https://www.ewt.org.za/eBooks/booklets/Eagles%20and%20Farmers%20booklet.pdf |archive-date=18 February 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 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.<ref name="ewt"/> Those that survive their first year have a life expectancy of some 12 to 24 years.<ref name="eol"/> | |||
| <gallery mode="packed"> | |||
| File:African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) on nest.jpg|An adult on the nest in ], Kenya | |||
| File:Aigle Pêcheur d'Afrique MHNT.jpg|Egg | |||
| File:Haliaeetus vocifer -near Grumeti, Serengeti, Tanzania-8.jpg|A third-year juvenile at ], ], Tanzania | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| == Diet == | |||
| ], Kenya]] | |||
| ] sp''., at the S3 Road West of ], ], ], South Africa]] | |||
| The African fish eagle feeds mainly on fish, which it swoops down upon from a perch in a tree, snatching the prey from the water with its large, clawed talons. The eagle then flies back to its perch to eat its catch. | |||
| Like other sea eagles, the African fish eagle has structures on its toes called spiricules that allow it to grasp fish and other slippery prey. The ], a winter visitor to Africa, also has this adaptation. Should the African fish eagle catch prey over 10 times its own body weight, it is too heavy to allow the eagle to get lift, so it instead drags the fish across the surface of the water until it reaches the shore. If it catches a fish too heavy to allow the eagle to sustain flight, it will drop into the water and paddle to the nearest shore with its wings. The African fish eagle is known to steal the catch of other bird species (such as ]s) <ref name="encounter1">{{cite web|url=http://www.encounter.co.za/article/156.html|title=The African fish eagle|publisher=Encounter.co.za|access-date=2012-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117222048/http://www.encounter.co.za/article/156.html|archive-date=2013-01-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> in a behaviour known as ]. It also feeds on ]s, especially ]s such as ]s, ] and ]s, small ]s and ]s, baby ]s, lizards, ]s, and ]. Occasionally, it may even carry off mammalian prey, such as ]es and ]s.<ref name="encounter1"/> It has also been observed feeding on domestic fowl (chickens). | |||
| == Relationship with humans == | |||
| ===Conservation=== | |||
| This species is listed as ] by the IUCN.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" /> The estimated population size is about 300,000 individuals with a distribution area of 18,300,000 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3361 |title=African Fish Eagle (''Haliaeetus vocifer'') - BirdLife species factsheet |publisher=Birdlife.org |access-date=2012-12-12}}</ref> | |||
| ===Heraldry=== | |||
| In the form of the ], it is the national bird of Zimbabwe and appears on the ]. The bird also figures in the ], ], and ], and on the ]. | |||
| ==Gallery== | |||
| <gallery widths="200" heights="135"> | |||
| African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer).jpg|], ] | |||
| File:African Fish Eagle.jpg|], ] | |||
| African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) juvenile in flight.jpg|Juvenile in flight, ] | |||
| African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) juveniles in nest.jpg|Juveniles in nest, Ethiopia | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{Wikispecies|Haliaeetus vocifer}} | |||
| {{Commons category|Haliaeetus vocifer}} | |||
| * African fish eagle - | |||
| {{Taxonbar|from=Q217497}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:African fish eagle}} | |||
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