Conservancy shares insights on Africa’s largest eagle

THE Kloof Conservancy has shared insights on one of the most magnificent and majestic birds to be found in our area – the Martial Eagle.

With a weight of up to 4.7kg, a length of 78 to 96cm and a wingspan of up to 2.4m, the Martial Eagle is the largest eagle in Africa. This eagle has dark brown back, head and neck feathers with white, spotted underparts. The tail is relatively short and narrow-barred.

Females are similar in plumage but significantly larger than the males.

Also read: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Grey Heron

Distribution

It is found across most of sub-Saharan Africa and in all provinces of South Africa, but it is not a common species.

Habitat

The Martial Eagle enjoys open woodland and forest edges and is very seldom seen in mountainous areas. They have very large territories of up to 150 000 square kilometres.

Feeding

The Martial Eagle hunts from the air and has excellent eyesight which can spot prey up to 6km away! It hunts mainly other bird species, such as herons and guinea fowl, usually killing them on impact, but they also feed on small mammals up to 3kg in weight.

Breeding

They are monogamous and pair for life, building their large nests on very tall trees and sometimes even using electricity pylons. A single egg is laid during autumn or winter (usually only every second year) and takes about seven weeks to hatch. The incubation is done primarily by the female, and the male provides the food for the chicks with the female being a constant ‘guard’. Juveniles will fledge after approximately three months, and they are good fliers right from the start.

Predators and threats

Unfortunately, in South Africa, this species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ and is under significant threat due to habitat loss, the muthi trade and its very long reproductive cycle.

Local information

The Upper Highway area is dominated by the powerful Crowned Eagle so the Martial Eagle is not commonly seen, but there has been a nesting pair in the Krantzkloof area for a number of years which provides good sightings of both adults and juveniles.

Interesting facts

Although it’s the largest eagle in Africa, and the Martial Eagle has a very impressive wingspan – it only ranks seventh in size as a number of other eagles are taller or heavier. The biggest eagle in terms of length and wingspan is the Philippine Eagle which averages 1m in height and has an average wingspan of well over 2m.

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