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African Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

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). Males usually have a wingspan of about 2 m (6 feet), while females have wingspans of 2.4 m (8 feet). The length is 63–75 cm (25–30 in). They are very distinctive in appearance 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.

Habitat:

This species is still quite common near freshwater lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, 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.

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3 Comments

Zlatan Celebic
Zlatan Celebic 3 years ago

Hi Neil - really great shot, loved it. I stumbled upon your spottings by chance, and took liberty to include this one in few relevant missions. Hope you don't mind my intervention. Cheers

VanessaVermaak
VanessaVermaak 13 years ago

Beautiful.... Their call always makes me feel like I am really in the bush!

Edith
Edith 13 years ago

Beautiful!!

NeilHarris
Spotted by
NeilHarris

North-West District, Botswana

Spotted on Jul 3, 2008
Submitted on Feb 28, 2011

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