African Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer (Daudin, 1800)

63–75 cmLength

The African fish eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer) or the African sea eagle is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Uganda

Where and when it's recorded

African Fish Eagle has been recorded at 447 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 35 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Lake Nakuru NPKenya1,392 records
  2. Nairobi NPKenya1,307 records
  3. Entebbe Botanical GardenUganda1,244 records
More places
  1. Amboseli NPKenya1,056 records
  2. Lake Mburo NPUganda759 records
  3. Lake NaivashaKenya750 records
  4. Chobe River – boat tripBotswana618 records
  5. Tarangire NPTanzania594 records
  6. Kruger NP – Skukuza CampSouth Africa558 records
  7. Kruger NP – Lower Sabie Rest CampSouth Africa538 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaUgandaBotswanaTanzaniaZambiaEthiopiaNamibia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The African fish eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer) or the African sea eagle is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the national bird of Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the African Fish Eagle?

The African Fish Eagle is about 63–75 cm long.

Where does the African Fish Eagle live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.

When is the best time to see the African Fish Eagle?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

What family is the African Fish Eagle in?

It belongs to the family Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae), order Accipitriformes.

At a glance

Length
63–75 cm

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Kites, Hawks, Eagles Accipitridae
Genus
Icthyophaga

Other birds in the genus Icthyophaga

Madagascar Fish EagleMadagascar Fish EagleIcthyophaga vociferoidesWhite-bellied Sea EagleWhite-bellied Sea EagleIcthyophaga leucogasterSanford's Sea EagleSanford's Sea EagleIcthyophaga sanfordiLesser Fish EagleLesser Fish EagleIcthyophaga humilisGrey-headed Fish EagleGrey-headed Fish EagleIcthyophaga ichthyaetusPearl KitePearl KiteGampsonyx swainsoniiScissor-tailed KiteScissor-tailed KiteChelictinia riocouriiWhite-tailed KiteWhite-tailed KiteElanus leucurusBlack-winged KiteBlack-winged KiteElanus caeruleusBlack-shouldered KiteBlack-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
African Fish Eagle

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Asrat Ayalew Gella. ↗

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