Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level IV: Large Carnivores - African Fish Eagle

Trophic Level IV: Large Carnivores
African Fish Eagle
Page 3

Haliaeetus vocifer

Length: 75 cm (30")

Status: Common

Habitat: African fish eagles are found around most of Africa's large lakes and rivers.

Food: African fish eagles eat a variety of prey. Included in their diet are fish, young crocodiles, flamingos, ducks, nesting waders, monitor lizards, small birds, turtles and lizards.

Fish are taken when they come up to the surface of the water. The eagle swoops down low across the water and uses its talons to grab the fish. Fish up to 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) are easily plucked from the water. Sometimes, a larger fish is caught and the bird cannot get airborne with it. When this happens, the eagle swims ashore using its wings like giant oars and dragging its prey behind.

When fishing is good, it can catch its daily requirements in ten minutes.

African fish eagles will also grab doves when they come down to the water to drink. Flamingos

are easy prey. The eagle flies into a flock and simply grabs one.

They are not above piracy either. Fish eagles tear food from pelicans, osprey, herons and even kingfishers.

Social System/Behavior: Anyone who has ever spent time around Africa's lakes or rivers has probably heard the four note call of this bird. "Whow, kyow, kow-kow" is often sung in duet by the territorial pair. The female initiates the calling.

A fish eagle's nest is built high up in a tall tree. Cliff ledges are also used occasionally. The same stick nest will be used for several years. Each year, more material is added to it. Sometimes, they become so large that they fall under their own weight. One nest in South Africa was used for over thirty years!

The females lays two eggs (range one to three). It takes 42 to 45 days to incubate the eggs. During most of this time, she sits on the nests. The male brings her food. The young hatch asynchronously, a day apart. Sometimes, as with eagle owls and other raptors, the first hatched eaglet expels its sibling(s) from the nest. However, fish eagles usually are able to feed both chicks and the survival rate is quite high.

By the time they are 70 days old, the young are fledged. For the next two to three months, they live around their nest site and imitate their parents’ behavior. They lack the striking white head of their parents and will not have adult coloring until they are four years old.

After three months, they move further afield and are soon gone from their parents’ territory.

Predators: Fish eagles are near the top of their food chain and are seldom preyed upon.

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