The African Fish Eagle, often called the "Voice of Africa" for its striking call.
Introduction
The African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), often referred to as the "Voice of Africa" due to its distinctive and evocative call, is a large and powerful bird of prey belonging to the Accipitridae family. It is one of Africa's most iconic raptors, instantly recognizable by its striking white head and dark body. Its scientific name, Haliaeetus vocifer, literally means "sea eagle with a loud voice," perfectly describing its habits and vocal prowess.
This magnificent bird is a skilled hunter, primarily preying on fish, which it expertly snatches from the water surface. It is a widespread resident across sub-Saharan Africa, thriving in diverse aquatic environments.
Length: 63 to 75 cm (25 to 30 in) (females are larger than males).
Wingspan: 1.75 to 2.1 meters (5.7 to 6.9 ft).
Weight: 2 to 3.6 kg (4.4 to 7.9 lbs) (females are heavier).
The African Fish Eagle is classified as "Least Concern" (LC) by the IUCN, indicating a healthy global population, although local threats and conservation efforts are ongoing in various regions.
Our Ornithologist's Advice
By the Les-Oiseaux.com Team, published November 6, 2025.
My personal advice: Spotting an African Fish Eagle in the wild is a quintessential African wildlife experience, often accompanied by its unforgettable call. Here are my tips to enhance your chances:
Focus on water bodies: As its name suggests, the African Fish Eagle is almost exclusively found near large freshwater lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, as well as coastal lagoons and estuaries. Search along shorelines, especially where there are tall trees or dead snags for perching.
Listen for its call: This is arguably the easiest way to detect an African Fish Eagle. Its loud, ringing call, a distinctive "weee-ah, hyo-hyo-hyo," is often heard before the bird is seen. It's truly the sound of the African wilderness.
Look for its distinctive plumage: The adult bird is unmistakable: a bright white head, neck, and chest, contrasting sharply with deep chestnut underparts and black wings and back. The tail is also white. Juveniles are browner but still have a recognizable silhouette.
Observe its hunting technique: Watch for it perched high in a tree, intently scanning the water. When it spots a fish, it will swoop down with a shallow glide, extend its powerful talons forward, and snatch the fish from just below the surface. This is a spectacular sight!
Early morning and late afternoon: Like many raptors, they are often most active during the cooler parts of the day, making sunrise and sunset ideal for both observation and photography.
The African Fish Eagle is a powerful symbol of Africa's wild heart. Its majestic presence and iconic call are a reminder of the continent's rich biodiversity.
Have you observed the African Fish Eagle?
Share your experience and photos! Your observations enrich the Les-Oiseaux.com community.
You can share as a guest or create an account to track your contributions.
Identification of the African Fish Eagle (Aigle à tête blanche)
The African Fish Eagle is a large, distinctive eagle, easily identified by its striking plumage and powerful build.
Plumage: Adults have a brilliant white head, throat, and chest, which stands in sharp contrast to their largely dark plumage. The lower belly and thighs are a rich chestnut brown, and the back, wings, and tail-covert feathers are black. The rump and tail are pure white.
Head: Distinctively white, often described as an "aigle à tête blanche" (white-headed eagle), with a yellow cere and bright yellow eyes.
Eyes: Bright yellow, giving it a keen and alert appearance.
Beak: Powerful, yellow, with a prominent black tip, perfectly adapted for grasping slippery fish.
Legs: Strong, yellow, with large, black talons designed for catching and holding fish. The legs are unfeathered.
Juvenile: Young African Fish Eagles are mottled brown with a darker head and a yellowish-brown chest. Their plumage gradually lightens over several years, achieving the iconic adult coloration around their fifth year.
Silhouette and Flight: In flight, it has broad, black wings and a white body. It typically soars on flat wings, often circling high above water bodies. Its flight is strong and purposeful, with powerful wingbeats. The large size and contrasting colors make it unmistakable against the African sky.
Scientific Dimensions and Records (African Fish Eagle)
Characteristic
Male
Female
Average / Record
Length
63 – 69 cm (25 – 27 in)
72 – 75 cm (28 – 30 in)
63 – 75 cm (25 – 30 in)
Wingspan
1.75 – 2.0 m (5.7 – 6.6 ft)
1.95 – 2.1 m (6.4 – 6.9 ft)
1.75 – 2.1 m (5.7 – 6.9 ft)
Weight
2 – 2.5 kg (4.4 – 5.5 lbs)
3.2 – 3.6 kg (7.1 – 7.9 lbs)
2 – 3.6 kg (4.4 – 7.9 lbs)
Lifespan
10 – 20 years (in the wild)
10 – 20 years (in the wild)
Average 10-20 years, up to 25 years (record)
These dimensions showcase the impressive size and power of the African Fish Eagle, a true aerial predator of Africa.
Not to be confused with...
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
While both the African Fish Eagle and the Osprey are fish-eating raptors often found near water, they are distinct. The Osprey is smaller and more slender, with a dark eye stripe, white underparts, and dark carpal patches under its wings. Its flight profile is distinct, with wings held in an M-shape. The African Fish Eagle's bright white head and chest with a contrasting chestnut belly are unmistakable, whereas the Osprey has a more uniformly white underside.
Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus)
The Bateleur Eagle is another large, distinctive African raptor. While it shares some habitat with the African Fish Eagle, its plumage (bright red face and legs, black body with rufous undertail coverts in adults) and especially its flight silhouette (extremely short tail, long wings) are very different. The Bateleur is more of a snake and general ground prey hunter, rarely seen fishing.
Song and Calls of the African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is renowned for its distinctive and powerful call, often considered one of the iconic sounds of Africa. It is very vocal, especially at dawn and dusk, and its calls carry for long distances across lakes and rivers.
Its calls can include:
Main Call: A loud, far-carrying, ringing "weee-ah, hyo-hyo-hyo" or "kyow-kyow-kyow," often performed from a high perch or in flight. This call is unique and instantly recognizable. It is used for territorial display, communication between mates, and when approaching the nest.
Alarm Calls: Shorter, sharper calls may be given if disturbed near the nest or when a predator is spotted.
Duetting: Mates often perform duets, with one bird initiating the call and the other responding, creating a harmonious and powerful sound.
0:00 / 0:00
Habitat and Distribution of the African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, generally avoiding the hyper-arid regions of the Sahara and Namib deserts. Its presence is strongly linked to aquatic environments.
It is primarily found in habitats close to:
Large freshwater bodies: Including major lakes (e.g., Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi, Lake Tanganyika), large rivers (e.g., Nile, Congo, Zambezi), and extensive reservoirs.
Coastal areas: Such as lagoons, estuaries, and deltas, where it can find sufficient fish prey.
Well-wooded shorelines: It requires tall trees (often acacias or baobabs) for perching, nesting, and roosting, providing a vantage point for hunting.
This species is largely sedentary throughout its range, with some local movements influenced by water levels and fish availability. Its powerful call is an auditory marker of its presence across the continent.
Distribution Map
Year-round Presence (Resident)
Breeding Area
Non-breeding (Wintering) Area
Passage Area (Migration)
Diet of the African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is a highly specialized and opportunistic carnivore, with fish forming the vast majority of its diet.
It primarily feeds on:
Fish: Its staple food. It usually catches fish weighing 200-1000g, though it can take much larger ones. It hunts by flying low over the water or swooping from a perch, snatching fish from near the surface with its powerful talons. Its spicules on the underside of its toes help it grip slippery prey.
Other aquatic animals: Occasionally preys on waterfowl (ducks, coots), frogs, small crocodiles, and other reptiles.
Small mammals and carrion: When fish are scarce, it may opportunistically take small mammals or scavenge carrion.
The African Fish Eagle has exceptional eyesight, allowing it to spot fish from great heights. After a successful catch, it often returns to a favored perch to consume its meal. If the fish is too heavy to carry in flight, it may drag it across the water to a nearby shore.
Reproduction of the African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is monogamous and typically forms long-term pair bonds, often for life. Breeding can occur year-round, depending on the region and local conditions, particularly water levels and food availability. In many areas, breeding peaks during the dry season when water levels are low and fish are concentrated.
Nest: Both sexes build a large nest, typically in a tall tree near water, such as a baobab or acacia. Nests are reused and enlarged year after year, sometimes reaching over 2 meters (6.6 ft) across and 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) deep. They are constructed from sticks and lined with leaves, grass, and even old fish bones.
Courtship Display: Spectacular aerial displays, including mutual soaring, chasing, and tumbling maneuvers, often accompanied by their characteristic calls, precede egg-laying.
Eggs: The female usually lays 1 to 3 eggs (most often 2), which are pure white and sometimes lightly spotted with reddish-brown. Laying intervals are typically 2-4 days. Incubation lasts about 28 to 45 days (average 35 days) and is primarily performed by the female, with the male bringing food.
Raising the Young: Chicks hatch asynchronously, covered in grayish-white down. They are fed by both parents. The older, stronger chick often outcompetes its younger siblings for food, a phenomenon known as siblicide, particularly when food is scarce. Fledging occurs around 65 to 75 days after hatching. After fledging, the young remain dependent on the adults for an additional 2 to 3 months to learn hunting skills before dispersing.
Conservation Status of the African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle is classified as "Least Concern" (LC - Least Concern) by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) globally (last assessed in 2021). This classification is due to its very large range and a global population estimated to be increasing or stable in many areas. The global population is estimated to be between 100,000 and 1,000,000 mature individuals.
Despite its stable global status, local threats and conservation challenges persist:
Habitat Degradation: Pollution of water bodies (pesticides, industrial waste) can reduce fish populations and directly affect eagles. Siltation and habitat alteration from human activities also pose threats.
Overfishing: Intensive fishing by humans can deplete fish stocks, leading to food scarcity for the eagles, particularly in certain regions.
Direct Persecution: Although generally protected, some eagles are still persecuted by fishermen who view them as competitors.
Electrocution: Collisions with power lines and electrocution on poorly designed electricity pylons are causes of mortality.
Climate Change: Changes in rainfall patterns and increased droughts can affect water levels and fish availability, impacting breeding success.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, regulating fishing practices, and public awareness campaigns to highlight the ecological importance of the African Fish Eagle. Its status as the national bird of Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Sudan also helps in promoting its conservation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the African Fish Eagle
How to identify the African Fish Eagle?
The African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is easily recognized by its striking appearance: a bright white head, throat, and chest, contrasting sharply with a dark chestnut belly and black wings. The tail is also white. Its powerful, yellow beak has a black tip. In flight, its broad, black wings and white body are unmistakable.
Where does the African Fish Eagle live?
The African Fish Eagle is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting areas close to large bodies of fresh water, such as lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. It can also be found in coastal lagoons and estuaries. Its distribution is closely tied to the availability of fish-rich waters and tall trees for nesting and perching.
What does the African Fish Eagle eat?
The African Fish Eagle's diet consists mainly of fish, which it catches by swooping down from a perch or soaring flight, snatching prey from the water surface with its powerful talons. It can also prey on small birds, frogs, small crocodiles, and carrion, especially when fish are scarce.
