UGANDA BIRDING SAFARI GUIDE
The African Fish Eagle
If you are Planning a Uganda Birding Safari. Then plan to enjoy the African Fish Eagle.
In this section of the Uganda Birding Safari Guide we share with you information about African Fish Eagles that can help you enjoy your Bird watching tour to Africa.
You will find information about:
- Where to find the African Fish Eagle in Uganda
- How to Identify them and
- Some interesting facts about these Uganda Birds
Where to find the African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)
The African Fish Eagle is a large fish-eating raptor just like its name suggests with a white head, throat, breast and tail on chestnut shoulders.
This bird is a resident on most lakes in Uganda and waterways but you will see it much easier in Mabamba wetland.
The Mabamba wetland is well known for other species of birds like the elusive shoebill, papyrus gonolek, swampy hen and herons.
Therefore if you want to watch the African fish eagle Mabamba wetland can be a one stop site to watch the other interesting birds in Uganda.
Characteristics of the African fish eagle
The African fish eagle is 73cm in height and the adult female bird is slightly larger than the male although all sexes look alike.
Adult birds have a gleaming white head, throat, breast and tail, while the shoulders and under parts are chestnut; the back and the wings are black.
The juvenile birds are scruffy, largely dark brown with a dark cap and whitish face and variable line on the nape, throat and breast.
The under wings have white patches.
The African fish eagle attains full plumage in the fifth year.
In their habitats
The African Fish Eagle is notable for its high attractive call wee weee…wuwuwu.
Pairs also duet, one can call wi and the other immediately replies woo.
These birds maintain a family bond/linkage and so you can find them in pairs and groups including the young.
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African Fish Eagles are stunning fishers and make marvelous stoops at fish as heavy as 10kg!! At times they feed on dead fish and if not successful in getting the prey it can steal from other fish eating birds. What a thief! I guess its survival for the fittest. |
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