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The African Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer, is a large species of eagle and a bird of prey.
African fish eagles are large birds, and the females are often larger than the males. Males usually have a wingspan of about 6 feet, while females have wingspans upwards of 8 feet. They are very distinctive in appearence with a mostly brown body and large, powerful, black wings. The head, breast, and tail of African fish eagles are snow white and the hook-shaped beak is mostly yellow with a black tip.
African fish eagles are still quite common near freshwater lakes, resevoirs, or rives, although they can sometimes be found near the coast at the mouths of rivers or lagoons. As their name implies African fish eagles are indigenous to Africa, ranging over most of continental Africa south of the southern-most edge of the Sahara Desert.
Breeding season for African fish eagles is during the dry season, when water levels are low. African fish eagles are believed to mate for life, and pairs will often maintain two or more nests, which they will frequently re-use. Because nests are re-used and built upon over the years the nests can grow to be quite large. The nests are placed in a large tree and built mostly of sticks and other peices of wood.