Martial eagle

The martial eagle, in Afrikaans breëkoparend (wide head eagle) and scientifically Polemaetus bellicosus, can be found everywhere in South Africa except around and in Lesotho. It also occurs widespread in Africa.

This large member of the booted eagle subfamily has feathers over its tarsus. The bare feet are greenish. Birds of up to 96 cm long have been recorded, the wingspan up to 2,4 m and the body mass sometimes over 5 kg. The females are slightly bigger and heavier than the males.

The species is listed as endangered these days, common in game reserves and protected areas but increasingly rare in regions that are actively farmed. It is shy and avoids people.

The martial eagle soars high and often perches on dead trees. Its food is other birds, mammals like goats, smaller antelopes, hares, dassies, mongooses and smaller reptiles. No wonder stock farmers are rarely this bird’s friend.

The stick nests may be 2 m wide and deep, each with a leaf-lined bowl on top, built in high forks of large trees; these days also on power pylons. One chalky white or greenish blue egg with red, brown or mauve blotches is laid. The female hatches the egg alone, taking up to 51 days to do so. She feeds the chick; the male brings the food. Parental care may be given for at least 3 months up to 8 months after first flight (Maclean, 1993; Wikipedia).