|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{taxobox
| |
| | name = African fish eagle
| |
| | status = LC
| |
| | status_system = IUCN3.1
| |
| | status_ref = {{sfn|IUCN Red List|2013}}
| |
| | image = African fish eagle just caught fish.jpg
| |
| | regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| |
| | phylum = [[Chordata]]
| |
| | classis = [[Aves]]
| |
| | ordo = [[Accipitriformes]]
| |
| | familia = [[Accipitridae]]
| |
| | genus = ''[[Haliaeetus]]''
| |
| | species = '''''H. vocifer'''''
| |
| | binomial = ''Haliaeetus vocifer''
| |
| | binomial_authority = ([[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]], 1800)
| |
| }}
| |
|
| |
| The '''African fish eagle''' (''Haliaeetus vocifer'')<ref>''Etymology'': ''Haliaeetus'', New Latin for "sea eagle". ''vocifer'', from [[Latin]] ''vox'', "voice" + ''-fer'', one who bears something, in allusion to the conspicuous yelping calls. These are, when sitting, given with the head fully thrown to the back, a peculiarity found among sea eagles only in this and the [[Madagascar]] [[species]].</ref> or – to distinguish it from the true [[Ichthyophaga|fish eagle]]s (''Ichthyophaga''), the '''African sea eagle''' – is a large species of [[eagle]] that is found throughout [[sub-Saharan Africa]] wherever large bodies of open water occur that have an abundant food supply. It is the [[List of national birds|national bird]] of Zimbabwe, [[Zambia]] and South Sudan. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birds.com/species/a-b/african-fish-eagle/ |title=African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) - Birds.com: Online Birds Guide with Facts, Articles, Videos, and Photos |publisher=Birds.com |date= |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref> Examples of names include:
| |
| '''''Visarend''''' in [[Afrikaans]];
| |
| '''''Nkwazi''''' in [[Chewa language|Chewa]];
| |
| '''''Aigle Pêcheur''''' in [[French language|French]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkive.org/african-fish-eagle/haliaeetus-vocifer/ |title=African Fish Eagle videos, photos and facts - Haliaeetus vocifer |publisher=ARKive |date= |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref>
| |
| '''''Hungwe''''' in [[Shona language|Shona]], and
| |
| '''''Inkwazi''''' in [[Zulu language|isiZulu]].
| |
|
| |
| This species may resemble the [[bald eagle]] in appearance; though related, each species occurs on different continents, with the bald eagle being resident in [[North America]].
| |
|
| |
| ==Taxonomy==
| |
| [[File:African Fish Eagle AdF.jpg|thumb|left|300px|African fish eagle perched in Lake Mburo, Uganda]]
| |
| The African fish eagle is a species placed in the genus ''Haliaeetus'' (sea eagles). The African fish eagle's closest relative appears to be the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle (''H. vociferoides''). Like all sea eagle species pairs, this one consists of a white-headed species (the African fish eagle) and a tan-headed one. These are an ancient lineage of sea eagles, and as such have dark talons, beaks, and eyes.{{sfn|Wink|Heidrich|Fentzloff|1996|p=}} Both species have at least partially white tails even as juveniles. The scientific name is derived from ''Haliaeetus'', New Latin for "sea eagle" (from the Ancient Greek ''haliaetos''), and ''vocifer'' is derived from its original genus name, so named by the French naturalist François Levaillant, who called it 'the vociferous one'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fourie|first=Pieter J|title=Media Studies: Policy, Management and Media Representation|year=2010|publisher=Juta and Company Ltd|isbn=978-0-7021-7675-3|page=370}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| == Description ==
| |
| [[File:African Fish Eagle closeup, Malta Falconry Centre.jpg|left|thumb|Close-up of face; note yellow colouration of face and lack of facial feathers.]]
| |
| The African fish eagle is a large bird, and the female, at {{convert|3.2|-|3.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} is larger than the male, at {{convert|2|-|2.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. This is typical of sexual dimorphism in birds of prey. Males usually have a wingspan of about {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}}, while females have wingspans of {{convert|2.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The body length is {{convert|63|–|75|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}}. The adult is very distinctive in appearance with a mostly brown body with a white head like the bald eagle and large, powerful, black wings. The head, breast, and tail of African fish eagles are snow white, with the exception of the featherless face, which is yellow. The eyes are dark brown in colour. The hook-shaped beak, ideal for a carnivorous lifestyle, is yellow with a black tip. The [[plumage]] of the juvenile is brown in colour, and the eyes are paler compared to the adult. The feet have rough soles and are equipped with powerful talons in order to enable the eagle to grasp slippery aquatic prey. While this species mainly subsists on fish, it is opportunistic and may take a wider variety of prey such as waterbirds. Its distinctive cry is, for many, evocative of the spirit or essence of Africa.<ref>http://www.wilkinsonsworld.com/tag/african-fish-eagle/</ref><ref name="thebookingcompany1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookingcompany.net/botswana/birds-botswana/fish-eagle|title=Fish Eagle |publisher=The Booking Company |date= |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://artofthewildrogerbrown.blogspot.com/2011/05/cry-of-african-fish-eagle.html |title=Art Of The Wild by Roger Brown.: Cry of the African Fish Eagle |publisher=Artofthewildrogerbrown.blogspot.com |date=2011-05-10 |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref> The call, shriller when uttered by males, is a ''weee-ah, hyo-hyo'' or a ''heee-ah, heeah-heeah''.<ref name="thebookingcompany1"/>
| |
|
| |
| ==Distribution and habitat==
| |
| This species is still quite common near freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and 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 sub-Saharan [[Africa]], ranging over most of continental Africa south of the [[Sahara Desert]]. Several examples of places where they may be resident include the [[Orange River]] in [[South Africa]] and [[Namibia]], the [[Okavango Delta]] in [[Botswana]], and [[Lake Malawi]] bordering its namesake country [[Malawi]], [[Tanzania]] and [[Mozambique]]. The African fish eagle is thought to occur in substantial numbers around the locations of [[Lake Victoria]] and other large lakes that are found in Central Africa, particularly the Rift Valley lakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/birds_african_fish_eagle.htm |title=African Fish Eagle {Haliaeetus Vocifer} |publisher=Sa-venues.com |date= |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref> The African fish eagle is a generalist species, requiring only open water with sufficient prey and a good perch. This is evident by the number of habitat types that this species may be found in, including [[grassland]], [[swamp]]s, [[marsh]]es, [[tropical rainforest]], [[fynbos]] and even [[desert]] bordering coastlines,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/African_Fish_Eagle |title=BBC Nature - African fish eagle videos, news and facts |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1970-01-01 |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref> such as that of [[Namibia]]. The African fish eagle is absent from arid areas with little surface water.
| |
|
| |
| == Reproduction ==
| |
| [[File:Aigle Pêcheur d'Afrique MHNT.jpg|upright|thumb|<center>Egg]]
| |
| Breeding season for African fish eagles is during the [[dry season]], when water levels are low. African fish eagles are believed to be [[monogamous]] – in other words, they mate for life.<ref name="eol">{{cite web |last1=Wildscreen |title=African Fish Eagle |url=http://eol.org/pages/914530/details |website=eol.org |publisher=Encyclopedia of Life |accessdate=11 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="orb">{{cite web |last1=Orban |first1=David |title=Haliaeetus vocifer African fish eagle |url=http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Haliaeetus_vocifer/ |website=Animal Diversity Web |publisher=University of Michigan |accessdate=11 April 2016}}</ref> Pairs will often maintain two or more nests, which they will frequently re-use. Because nests are re-used and built upon over the years the nests can grow quite large, some reaching 2 m (six feet) across and {{convert|1.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} deep. The nests are placed in a large tree and are built mostly of sticks and other pieces of wood.
| |
| [[File:Haliaeetus vocifer -near Grumeti, Serengeti, Tanzania-8.jpg|upright|right|thumb|A third year juvenile in Tanzania]]
| |
| The female lays 1 to 3 eggs, which are primarily white with a few reddish speckles. Incubation is mostly done by the female, but the male will incubate when the female leaves to hunt. Incubation lasts for 42 to 45 days before the chicks hatch. [[Siblicide]] does not normally occur in this taxon, and the parents will often successfully rear two or three chicks.<ref name="ewt">{{cite web|last1=Botha |first1=André |title=Eagles and Farmers |url=https://www.ewt.org.za/eBooks/booklets/Eagles%20and%20Farmers%20booklet.pdf |website=ewt.org.za |publisher=Birds of Prey Programme, Endangered Wildlife Trust |isbn = 0 620 11147 X | date = 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2016|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Chicks fledge at approx 70 to 75 days. Post-fledgling dependence lasts up to three months, whereafter the juveniles become nomadic, and may congregate in groups away from territorial adults.<ref name="ewt"/> Those that survive their first year have a life expectancy of some 12 to 24 years.<ref name="eol"/>
| |
|
| |
| == Diet ==
| |
|
| |
| The African fish eagle feeds mainly on [[fish]], which it will swoop down upon from a perch in a tree, snatching the prey from the water with its large clawed talons. The eagle will then fly back to its perch to eat its catch. [[File:Haliaeetus vocifer -Malawi -perching in tree-8.jpg|right|thumb|Perched in a fever tree in Malawi – it perches with an upright posture and mostly in trees.]] Like other sea eagles, the African fish eagle has structures on its toes called spiricules that allows it to grasp fish and other slippery prey. The [[osprey]], a winter visitor to Africa, also has this adaptation. Should the African fish eagle catch a fish over {{convert|1.8|kg|lb|abbr=on}} it will be too heavy to allow the eagle to get lift, so it will instead drag the fish across the surface of the water until it reaches the shore. If it catches a fish that is too heavy to even allow the eagle to sustain flight, it will drop into the water and paddle to the nearest shore with its wings. The African fish eagle is known to peculate other bird species (such as [[goliath heron]]s) of their catch.<ref name="encounter1">{{cite web|url=http://www.encounter.co.za/article/156.html|title=The African fish eagle |publisher=Encounter.co.za |date= |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref> This behaviour is known as [[kleptoparasitism]]. It will also feed on [[waterfowl]] such as [[duck]]s, small [[turtle]]s and [[terrapin]]s, baby [[crocodile]]s, [[greater flamingo]]s and [[lesser flamingo]]s, lizards, [[frog]]s and [[carrion]]. Occasionally, it may even carry off mammalian prey, such as [[hyrax]]es and [[monkey]]s.<ref name="encounter1"/> It has also been observed feeding on domestic fowl (chickens).
| |
|
| |
| == Relationship with humans ==
| |
|
| |
| ===Conservation===
| |
| This species is listed as ''Least Concern'' by IUCN. The estimated population size is about 300,000 individuals with a distribution area of 18,300,000 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3361 |title=African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) - BirdLife species factsheet |publisher=Birdlife.org |date= |accessdate=2012-12-12}}</ref>
| |
|
| |
| ===Heraldry=== | | ===Heraldry=== |
| The bird is the national bird of Zambia and appears on the [[Zambian flag]] and also on the [[Coat of arms of Zambia]]. The bird also appears on the Zimbabwean flag. The bird figures in the Coat of arms of Namibia. It also appears on the Coat of arms of South Sudan against two crossed bush spears and a shield. | | The bird is the national bird of Zambia and appears on the [[Zambian flag]] and also on the [[Coat of arms of Zambia]]. The bird also appears on the Zimbabwean flag. The bird figures in the Coat of arms of Namibia. It also appears on the Coat of arms of South Sudan against two crossed bush spears and a shield. |
|
| |
| ==Gallery==
| |
| <gallery>
| |
| [[File:DSC 0049.jpg thumb in captivity]]
| |
| File:Schreiseeadler Haliaeetus vocifer 2 amk.jpg
| |
| File:Hvidhovedet afrikansk ørn2.png
| |
| File:Haliaeetus vocifer -Lake Naivasha, Great Rift Valley, Kenya-8.jpg
| |
| File:African Fish Eagle.jpg
| |
| </gallery>
| |
|
| |
| == Footnotes ==
| |
| {{reflist}}
| |
|
| |
| ==References==
| |
|
| |
| * {{IUCN|id=22695115 |title=''Haliaeetus vocifer'' |assessors=[[BirdLife International]] |version=2013.2 |year=2013 |accessdate=26 November 2013
| |
| | ref = {{harvid|IUCN Red List|2013}}
| |
| }}
| |
| * {{cite journal| last = Wink | first = M.| last2 = Heidrich | first2 = P.| last3 = Fentzloff | first3 = C.| year = 1996| doi = 10.1016/S0305-1978(96)00049-X| title = A mtDNA phylogeny of sea eagles (genus ''Haliaeetus'') based on nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome ''b'' gene| journal = Biochemical Systematics and Ecology| volume = 24| issue = 7–8| pages = 783–791| pmid =| pmc =| url = http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/institute/fak14/ipmb/phazb/pubwink/1996/20_1996.pdf| format = PDF| accessdate =| ref = harv}}
| |
|
| |
| ==External links==
| |
| * African fish eagle - [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/148.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds].
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| [[Category:Eagles]]
| |
| [[Category:Haliaeetus]]
| |
| [[Category:Birds of Zambia]]
| |
| [[Category:Fauna of Southern Africa]]
| |
| [[Category:Zambian birds of prey]]
| |
