Martial Eagle Species Profile: Africa's Powerful Hunter of the Open Bush

Seeing a martial eagle is a highlight for birdwatchers and general safari-goers alike. It perches on a treetop or circles high over the plains, and its size and dark chest make it distinct from most other raptors you will see on a game drive.

This profile covers how to identify it, how it hunts and breeds, why it is declining and where to look. For other large raptors, see the vulture, secretary bird and fish eagle profiles.

This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Identification

An adult martial eagle has a dark brown to blackish head, throat and upper breast, dark brown upperparts, and white underparts spotted with dark marks. The legs are long and feathered only partly, the eyes are yellow, and a short crest can be raised. In flight the wings are long and broad, the tail is rather short and the underwing is dark with a paler lining. Juveniles are paler, with a whitish head and underparts that darken over several years, which can confuse observers. Size, upright posture and the dark bib are good clues.

Habitat and Range

Martial eagles live in open savanna, thornveld, light woodland and semi-arid country across sub-Saharan Africa. They need tall trees for nesting and hunting perches, but also open ground to search for prey, and they avoid dense forest. Pairs hold large territories, which is why you rarely see more than one or two in the same area. They can be found in both protected and farmed landscapes.

Hunting

Martial eagles hunt from high soaring flight or from a perch, then stoop onto prey in a rapid dive. They take a wide variety of animals, including guineafowl and francolins, monitor lizards, hares, mongooses, snakes and small antelope such as duikers and dik-diks, and in some cases the young of larger mammals. Their strong feet and talons can kill prey much heavier than a typical bird of prey. Their ability to take mammals brings them into conflict with livestock keepers, who sometimes persecute them.

Breeding

Pairs build a huge stick nest in a large tree, often a flat-topped acacia or other strong tree, and use it for years. They lay a single egg, and the chick takes a long time to grow and fledge, then depends on its parents for a considerable period afterwards. This slow breeding means a pair may not raise a chick every year, and the population recovers slowly after losses. Disturbance at the nest can cause failure.

Threats and Conservation

Martial eagles have declined in many regions and are classed as threatened on international lists. Pressures include persecution by farmers, poisoning, collisions with power lines, loss of nesting trees and shrinking prey. Protected areas are important refuges, and community education helps reduce persecution. Responsible visitors can help by keeping a respectful distance from nests, never playing recorded calls and supporting conservation-minded operators.

Where to See a Martial Eagle

Good places include the plains and acacia country of the Serengeti and Masai Mara, the baobab and acacia landscapes of Tarangire, the dry bush of Tsavo, Samburu and Amboseli, and the northern savanna of Kidepo Valley. Scan the tops of tall trees and the sky around thermals in mid-morning. Sightings can be brief, so be ready. Check the East Africa wildlife guide for more raptors.

Viewing and Photography Tips

Ask your guide to stop well short of a perched eagle and let it settle. Use a long lens and a fast shutter speed for birds in flight. Dawn light is gentle, while midday thermals lift birds high where they become tiny. Pay attention to behaviour: an eagle watching the ground may be about to hunt. Never flush a bird for a better shot. Read safari photography tips and the photography gear guide. For birding trips more generally, join a specialist guide.

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Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team