Martial eagle

Martial Eagle
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Subkingdom	Bilateria
Branch	Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Infraphylum	Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass	Tetrapoda
Class	Aves
Sub-class	Neornithes
Infra-class	Neoaves
Order Information
Order	Accipitriformes
Sub-order	Accipitres
Family Information
Superfamily	Accipitroidea
Family	Accipitridae
Sub-family	Aquilinae
Genus Information
Genus	Polemaetus
Species Information
Species	P. bellicosus
Population statistics
Population	Unknown (2018 est.)
Conservation status	Vulnerable

The martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a species of bird of prey of the family Accipitridae, and found over much of sub-Saharan Africa.

Description

The martial eagle is very large, about 31 to 38 inches, a wingspan of 6 ft 2 to 8 ft 6 inches, and weigh 8.8 to 9.3 pounds, sometimes more. Females are some 24% larger than males. In terms of sheer size, the martial eagle is among the largest living eagles, with only four other species exceeding it in size and wingspan.

In coloration, the back, neck and wings are dark grayish-brown to dark gray, while the chest, belly and legs are white with brown spots. Females are also more heavily spotted on the chest and belly than males. The iris is yellow. A sitting eagle has an upright posture, with the head roughly in line with the talons, while the strong pectoral muscles are clearly visible.

Range and habitat

The martial eagle lives in open and semi-open landscapes of sub-Saharan Africa, from deserts to light forests. The range extends from the Gambia river basin in the west, eastward to Ethiopia, and southwards to South Africa; the species is not found within the moist, tropical rain forests of the Congo river basin or the Ivory/Gold coasts bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Diet

Martial eagles mainly eat small to medium-sized mammals that live on the ground, such as hares, rock hyrax, meerkats, small antelopes or the young of slightly-larger antelopes. They will also take jackals, large birds (chickens, water fowl, etc.) and reptiles such as monitor lizards, snakes and small lizards. They have been known to prey on domesticated livestock (goats, sheep, poultry) as well as domestic dogs. Prey is hunted from the sky, and rarely from a perch ambush, the strength of the talons combined with the speed of the dive killing the prey on impact.

Reproduction

The breeding season lasts from November to July and shifts within this period depending on the latitude. The female builds the nest almost alone. The nest is built in a branch fork or a flat tree top (sometimes the top of a power pole) and has a diameter of up to 6 feet and a height of 4 feet. After completing the nest, the female lays a single beige, brown-speckled egg that weighs about 6.7 ounces.

The young eagle hatches after a breeding period of 6 to 7 weeks. At three and a half months, the chick made its first flight attempts, remaining close to the nest for some time. It will gain its adult plumage by the age of six to seven years.

Threats

Martial eagles have seen a decline in numbers throughout Africa, with the only reliable counts available for South Africa (ca. 800 pairs) and Namibia (ca. 350 pairs). The primary reason for the decline is direct (hunting, livestock protection, tribal beliefs, etc.) and indirect (power lines, reservoir drowning, carcass poisoning, etc.) persecution by man. Deforestation is also believed to be a cause, but studies indicate this has less of an impact, as the species has been known to be adaptable to its surroundings. However, large, high trees are required for nest sites, and it has been known that elephants have contributed to a deforestation within Kruger National Park, leading to a reduction in nesting within that area.