African Fish Eagle – the National Bird of Namibia

African Fish Eagle – the National Bird of Namibia

African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) are the National Bird of Namibia. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, commonly residing near sources of freshwater such as lakes, resevoirs, and rivers. They feed mainly on fish, giving them their names, however they have also been known to feed on birds, monkeys, and even crocodile hatchling. Like other sea eagles, they have structures on its toe called spiricules that allow it to catch slippery prey. They are incredibly efficient hunters and can spend as little as ten minutes per day hunting.

Pairs mate for life, breeding during the dry season. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with females larger than males. The female wingspan is 2.4 meters in size.

Its call is incredibly distinctive and well known, to the point it has been known as “the voice of Africa”.

-Stephanie Sila