The martial eagle is the largest eagle in Africa, a powerful predator with pale white underparts spotted in black, a dark brown head, back and wings, and white legs with very large, sharp talons. It prefers savannah and thornbush areas throughout South Africa, also occurs in open and semi-desert country, and does not frequent forested areas.
Name
Martial Eagle
Appearance
The Martial Eagle is the largest African Eagle and is an incredibly powerful bird. These massive eagles can weigh up to 6.5kg. The lower part of the Martial Eagle is a pale white colour decorated in black spots. Its back, head and wings are all dark brown in colour. It has very piercing yellow eyes with black pupils. The legs of the Martial Eagle are white with incredibly large and sharp talons.
Diet
The Diet of the Martial Eagle consists mainly of birds. Guinea fowl, bustards and francolins all make up the main diet of the Martial Eagle. Its diet slightly differs depending on the area it can be found and their diet can consist of mostly mammal like hyrax, antelopes, monkeys and sometimes even goats and lambs. The Martial Eagle is a truly fearsome predator and an intimidating presence.
Breeding
The Martial Eagle builds its nests high up in a tree and often in the largest tree that can be found in the area. The nest must be high enough for the eagle to make a clear sweep off the nest. The pairs usually have more than one nest which they alternate between every few years. Their nests are large structures that are basin shaped and are much wider than they are deep. Depending on the season they are in and the area they are their breeding cycle may change. Unlike many other birds, the Martial Eagle female doesn’t get fed by the male while she incubates and instead leaves the nest to find food.
The eggs are incubated for 45 days, after which the young are very weak and slowly get stronger for 20 days. By 70 days old, the chicks are completely covered in feathers. The young are fed by the parents until age of 60 days before they start to tear up prey on their own. At 100 days old, the birds are strong enough to fly.
Behaviour
The Martial Eagle prefers thornbush and savannah areas all throughout South Africa. They soar for hours using only the updrafts and will attack prey by doing a steep, highspeed swoop. The Martial Eagle hunts in open areas where there is lots of space to move and seldom hunts while perched. A Pair of Martial Eagles can have a home range of over 60km2 . They can often hunt for several days in a single area before moving to a new area. The Martial Eagle is also a rather shy eagle and usually keeps away from man. Though there are stories of Martial Eagles preying on domestic animals, there are very few confirmed cases.
Habitat
Martial Eagles prefer savannah and desert areas as well as thornbush areas in Africa. It can also be encountered in much more open areas and semi desert country but they don’t frequent forested areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a martial eagle eat?
Mainly birds such as guineafowl, bustards and francolins. Its diet differs depending on the area, and in some places it consists mostly of mammals such as hyraxes, antelopes and monkeys.
How does a martial eagle hunt?
From the air. The martial eagle soars for hours using only updrafts, hunts over open areas with plenty of space and attacks prey with a steep, high-speed swoop, seldom hunting from a perch. It often hunts in one area for several days before moving on.
Where do martial eagles build their nests?
High in a tree, often the largest tree in the area, so the eagle can make a clear sweep off the nest. The nests are large, basin-shaped structures much wider than they are deep, and pairs usually have more than one nest, alternating every few years.
How long before a martial eagle chick can fly?
100 days. The eggs are incubated for 45 days, the parents feed the young until they are 60 days old, the chicks are completely covered in feathers by 70 days, and at 100 days old they are strong enough to fly.
How big is a martial eagle’s home range?
A pair of martial eagles can have a home range of over 60 km². The martial eagle is also a rather shy eagle that usually keeps away from people.
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