Fauna
Bird

African Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

Also known as African Sea Eagle

The African Fish Eagle is a large waterside raptor with a white head, breast, and tail contrasting with chestnut body feathers and black wings. Its ringing paired call carries across lakes as it watches from exposed branches and snatches fish near the surface.

Waterside RaptorFish HunterResonant Call
African Fish Eagle reference
Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFish, Waterbirds, Freshwater turtles
Predators
  • Larger eagles
  • Monitor lizards
  • Large snakes
ThreatsWetland degradation, water pollution, pesticide accumulation, shoreline development, and entanglement in fishing gear
HabitatsFreshwater lakes, broad rivers, reservoirs, marshes, lagoons, estuaries, and wooded shorelines
Life spanLikely 15 to 25 years, with long-term pairs occupying productive territories
Classification
  1. OrderAccipitriformes
  2. FamilyAccipitridae
  3. GenusHaliaeetus
  4. SpeciesHaliaeetus vocifer
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Watch from a fixed distance and stay well outside nest trees and shoreline feeding perches.
Responsible observation
  • Call: Listen for a far-carrying series of ringing notes over open water.
  • Plumage: Adults combine a white head and tail with chestnut body and dark wings.
  • Perch: Scan prominent dead branches without approaching the base of the tree.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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Alpine Heights

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Mystic Meadows

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