African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila fasciatus

• White unspotted thighs.
• In flight the underwing is primarily white, and the upperwing is dark brown with characteristic white panels at the base of the primaries.
• Female larger than male and more heavily streaked in front.
• Juvenile has the underwing coverts and underbody pale rufous; darkens with age.
• Habitat: Woodland and savanna.
• Call: Musical ‘klee-klee-klee’ (whatever it means ).

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

Symbolizes Africa rather majestically! For more details, refer to my “Safari Bird Species” article.

African Crowned Eagle

Stephanoaetus coronatus

• Large size and hawk-like appearance.
• Dark grey above, and rufous below; breast and belly heavily mottled in black.
• Well-rounded wings and a long barred tail when in flight.

• Habitat: Evergreen and riverine gallery forest.
• Call: Extremely vocal “kiwi supporter” : ringing ‘kewee-kewee-kewee‘.

Bateleur

Terathopius ecaudatus

My favourite African eagle species out of them all.

• Black, white and chestnut plumage.
• Diagnostic wing shape and very short tail.
• Long wings held slightly angled upwards; rarely flapping when in flight motion.
• Male has a broad black trailing edge to the wing, whereas the female’s edge is narrow.

Male specimen (broad black trailing)!

• Immature individuals are brown.
• Habitat: Savanna.
• Call: Loud bark, ‘kow-wah‘.

Verreaux’s Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

• Also known as the “Black Eagle”.
• Unmistakable: in flight the wings are narrow at the base and broadening in the middle.
• White rump and back markings contrasting with the black plumage.

• Habitat: Mountainous regions with cliffs and crevices. Feeds primarily on rock hyraxes.
• Call: Melodious ‘keee-uup‘.

Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus

• Dark head, throat and upper breast + white, lightly spotted breast and belly and very dark underwings.
• Resembles the black-chested Snake-Eagle from below.
• Habitat: Variety of different habitats, from deserts to forests and savannas.
• Call: a rapid ‘klooee-klooee-klooee‘ in display.

Long-Crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

• Dull black plumage and long, wispy crest.
• Conspicuous white bases to the primaries when in flight + black & white barred tail.
• Male has white leggings, and a longer crest than the female.
• Female’s leggings are mottled brown/brown-and-white.
• Habitat: Wooded areas and marshy forest edges.
• Call: High-pitched ‘kee-ah‘ during display or when perched.

Tags: African eagles, eagles, eagles Africa

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 6:48 pm and is filed under Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed or trackback from your own site.