Scientific name: Polemaetus bellicosus
The largest eagle in Africa, the Martial eagle weighs in at almost 6.5kg and has a wingspan of about 188 to 260 cm, is 78 to 96 cm long. The upperparts are dark brown with a white belly with black streaks, the legs are white and has very large talons. The immature bird looks quite different from the adult.
In southern Africa, it is widespread but uncommon, generally preferring flat, open woodland, such as savanna, forest edges and drainage woodland in shrubland. It may move into open farmland with stands of trees.
It eats a variety of animals, especially birds, mammals and reptiles; the relative proportion of these animals in it's diet varies greatly in different areas. It does most of its hunting aerially, soaring high in the air so that it can spot prey up to 6 km away. Once it finds something, it descends in a long swoop, dropping to the ground with wings and tail spread (as in the photo above) and striking the prey. Small animals are usually killed by the impact, but larger prey may have to be strangled to finish them off.
