Martial eagle

One of Africa’s largest and most powerful birds of prey—a true apex predator of the skies

Karin Lewis


Martial eagle

EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

One of Africa’s largest and most powerful birds of prey—a true apex predator of the skies

Population
50-79% suspected decline over the past 33 years

With its fierce eyes, massive wingspan, and formidable hunting skills, it commands both respect and awe across the open savannas, woodlands, and semi-deserts where it lives. This majestic raptor is not only known for its size but also for its remarkable ability to take down prey that many other eagles wouldn’t dare attempt.

Martial eagles are striking birds with a dark brown back, head, and wings, and a contrasting white belly speckled with black spots. Their eyes are bright yellow, and their talons are incredibly strong—built for gripping and killing prey. Despite their size, they soar with elegance, using their long, broad wings to glide effortlessly for miles in search of food.

The martial eagle is a solitary hunter and prefers wide-open spaces where it can spot prey from the air. Its diet is extremely varied, and it’s known for its boldness when hunting. It feeds on birds, reptiles, and mammals, including guinea fowl, monitor lizards, monkeys, and even small antelope. With a high-speed dive and a sudden strike, the eagle can kill prey much larger than itself, earning it a reputation as one of the most fearsome hunters in the bird world.

Nesting usually takes place in tall trees or, where trees are scarce, on rocky cliffs. Martial eagles build large stick nests, often reused year after year, and usually lay just one egg per breeding cycle. Both parents care for the chick, but the process is slow—the young eagle may stay in the nest area and depend on its parents for nearly a year before becoming fully independent. This slow breeding cycle means the species doesn’t reproduce quickly, which makes it vulnerable to population declines.

Distribution

Country
Population est.
Status
Year
Comments
Angola
2020
Benin
2020
Botswana
2020
Burkina Faso
2020
Burundi
2020
Cameroon
2020
Central Af. Rep.
2020
Chad
2020
Côte D’ivoire
2020
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
2020
Eritrea
2020
Eswatini
2020
Ethiopia
2020
Gambia
2020
Ghana
2020
Guinea-Bissau
2020
Guinea
2020
Kenya
2020
Liberia
2020
Non-Breeding
Malawi
2020
Mali
2020
Mauritania
2020
Mozambique
2020
Namibia
2020
Niger
2020
Nigeria
2020
Rwanda
2020
Senegal
2020
Sierra Leone
2020
Somalia
2020
South Africa
2020
South Sudan
2020
Sudan
2020
Tanzania
2020
Togo
2020
Uganda
2020
Zambia
2020
Zimbabwe
2020

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Terrestrial / Aquatic

Altricial / Precocial

Polygamous / Monogamous

Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd

Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

Migratory: Yes / No

Domesticated: Yes / No

Dangerous: Yes / No