Polemaetus – Martial eagle

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.