African fish-eagle

Description:

The African Fish Eagle is a large bird, and the female, at 3.2-3.6 kg (7-8 lbs) is larger than the male, at 2-2.5 kg (4.4-5.5 lbs). This is typical of sexual dimorphism in birds of prey. Males usually have a wingspan of about 2 m (6 feet), while females have wingspans of 2.4 m (8 feet). #4,5 shows a bit of how great the place for the spotting was. A storch, baboons breastfeeding their small a, and this "fish eagle" observing it all...

Habitat:

Mixed woodland, close to a small waterhole. Rainy season just started

Notes:

While this species mainly subsists on fish, it is opportunistic and may take a wider variety of prey such as waterbirds. Small fish are carried through the air into a tree, but larger catches are dragged through the water to the shoreline. Despite only one in every seven or eight fishing attempts being successful, the African fish-eagle rarely spends more than ten minutes per day actively hunting. The clear, ringing call of the African fish-eagle, weee-ah hyo-hyo-hyo, made with the head thrown back, has to be the most characteristic and evocative sound of African watersides. African fish-eagles that are fortunate to survive the first year have an estimated life expectancy of 12 to 24 years.