Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus

Other Pics: Immature Martial Eagle

Other Names

  Martial Harrier-Eagle, Martial Hawk Eagle   Aigle martial   Kampfadler   Águila Marcial   Stridsörn   Vechtarend   Aquila bellicosa

World: Widely distributed in Africa south of 15°N, although distribution is sporadic in the west and the bird is mostly absent from the lowland equatorial forest areas

Kenya: This is a fairly common grassland/bush raptor found predominantly though not exclusively, in drier areas such as Samburu and Tsavo although breeding in moister areas. It has been recorded across much of the country

Not only is its colouring distinctive but so is its size, at about 33" (83cm) in length the Martial Eagle is about the size of a Golden Eagle. Add to this those piercing yellow eyes and you get a bird with "attitude". The immature bird looks quite different from the adult. The one shown on the left was photographed in 1998 at the Buffalo Springs end of the Samburu Game Reserve, during a very quiet spell. We were fortunate to be the only people around and so were able to spend considerable time enjoying the spectacle of the young eagle on the ground drinking and bathing