The Martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. Due to its habit of taking livestock and regionally valuable game, local farmers and game wardens frequently seek to eliminate Martial eagles, although the effect of eagles on this prey is almost certainly considerably exaggerated.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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Apex predatorAn apex predator, also known as a top predator, is a predator at the top of a food chain and has no natural predators. These animals usually occup...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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Soaring birdsSoaring birds can maintain flight without wing flapping, using rising air currents. Many gliding birds are able to "lock" their extended wings by m...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withAdult Martial eagles are dark brown on the upperparts, head, and upper chest, with an occasional slightly lighter edging to these feathers. The dark feathers can appear grayish, blackish, or even plum-colored depending on lighting conditions. The body underparts are feathered white with sparse but conspicuous blackish-brown spotting. The underwing coverts are dark brown, with the remiges being pale streaked with black, overall imparting the wings of adults a dark look. The underside of the tail has similar barring as the remiges while the upperside is the same uniform brown as the back and upperwing coverts. The eyes of mature Martial eagles are rich yellow, while the cere and large feet pale greenish and the talons black. Martial eagles have a short erectile crest, which is typically neither prominent nor flared and generally appears as an angular back to a seemingly flat head. In flight, martial eagles bear long broad wings with relatively narrow rounded tips that can appear pointed at times depending on how the eagle is holding its wings. Juvenile martial eagles are conspicuously distinct in plumage with a pearly gray colour above with considerable white edging, as well as a speckled grey effect on crown and hind neck. The entire underside is conspicuously white. The wing coverts of juveniles are mottled grey-brown and white, with patterns of bars on primaries and tail that are similar to adult but lighter and greyer. In the fourth or fifth years, a very gradual increase to brownish feather speckling is noted but the back and crown remain a fairly pale grey. At this age, there may be increasing spots on the throat and chest which coalesce into a gorget and some spots on the abdomen may variably manifest as well. The eyes of juveniles are dark brown. This species reaches adult plumage by its seventh year with the transition to adult plumage happening quite rapidly after many years in a little-changing juvenile plumage.
Martial eagles are found in most of sub-Saharan Africa. They prefer to live in open woods and woodland edges, wooded savannah, and thornbush habitats. These eagles also avoid closed-canopy forests and hyper-arid desert. In southern Africa, they have adapted to more open habitats than elsewhere in their range, such as semi-desert and open savanna with scattered trees, and wooded hillocks. In the desert areas of Namibia, they utilize ephemeral rivers. Martial eagles seem to prefer desolate or protected areas.
Martial eagles are diurnal, often spending a large portion of the day on the wing, and often at a great height. When not breeding, both mature eagles from a breeding pair may be found roosting on their own in some tree up to several miles from their nesting haunt, probably hunting for several days in one area and then moving on to another area. Martial eagles usually hunt in a long, shallow stoop, however, when the quarry is seen in a more enclosed space, they parachute down at a relatively steeper angle. Prey may often be spotted from 3 to 5 km (1.9 to 3.1 mi) away with a record of about 6 km (3.7 mi). On occasion, Martial eagles may still-hunt from a high perch or concealed in vegetation near watering holes. If the initial attempt fails, they may swoop around to attempt again, especially if the intended victim is not dangerous. Martial eagles tend to be very solitary and do not tolerate other eagles in the area outside of the pair during the breeding season. These birds are generally shy and try to avoid humans, but may be seen passing overpopulated country at times. These powerful hunters are relatively quiet birds. When near the nest or excited, they produce 'hlueee-oh' and during display, birds utter a series of 'klee-klee-klee-kloeee-kloeee-kulee'.
Martial eagles are carnivorous opportunistic predators that prey on mammals, birds, and reptiles. They hunt small antelopes, some monkeys, young domestic goats and lambs, water birds such as herons, storks, and geese. At other times, these eagles may prey upon a wide range of potentially dangerous prey, such as monitor lizards, venomous snakes, jackals, and medium-sized wild cats.
Martial eagles form monogamous pairs, which stay together for life. The birds don’t have a spectacular display flight. Their display often consists of the adult male or both members of a pair circling and calling over their home range area. During mutual circling, the adult female may turn and present talons. Martial eagles may breed in various months in different parts of their range. In Senegal, the mating season takes place in November-April, January to June in Sudan, August to July in northeast Africa, and almost any month in east Africa and southern Africa, though mostly in April-November. Pairs build their nests in large trees and usually place them in the main fork of the tree at 6-20 m (20-66 ft) off the ground. Females usually lay one egg (rarely two) every two years. The egg is incubated for 45 to 53 days mainly by the female. The newly hatched chicks are usually quite weak and feeble, becoming more active only after they are 20 days old. The chicks usually first feed themselves at 9 to 11 weeks old and fledge at 96 to 109 days. They may remain in the care of their parents for a further 6 to 12 months and will reach reproductive maturity at 4 to 5 years of age.
The main threats to Martial eagles include hunting and habitat loss. Farmers kill the birds because they hunt domestic animals. Viewed by farmers as a threat to livestock, eagles are often poisoned and shot. Other threats come from powerline collisions and habitat destruction. The eagle’s low reproductive rate is also a problem for its long-term survival.
According to the Africa Geographic resource, the total population size of the Martial eagle is approximately 30,000 individuals. According to the IUCN Red List, the population of this species in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland are around 800 pairs and the population in Namibia includes less than 350 pairs. Currently, Martial eagles are classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today are decreasing.
Martial eagles are apex predators and are at the top of the avian food chain in their environment. Due to their opportunistic diet, these birds control the population of their prey species.
