During the early fledging period the female remains near or on the nest, and the male hunts and brings prey. The young Martial Eagle is fed by its parent till it is about 60 days old, and well feathered, when it starts to tear up its prey itself. The young is very weak and feeble when first hatched, but becomes more active after about twenty days.Īt 32 days feathers show through the down, and completely cover the bird at 70 days. The incubation period is probably about 45 days. The female leaves the nest to feed and is not usually fed by the male at the nest. Incubation is normally done by the female, but a male has been known to sit. The Martial Eagle breeding season may thus begin in various parts of the range in a wet season, the early dry season, or late in the dry season, and some part of the cycle must extend through rainy periods. They may be used by a succession of birds for many years. They are made of large sticks up to one-and-a-half inches in diameter, lined with green leaves. They are huge structures about four to six feet across and up to four feet thick, and often basin-shaped when new - much broader than they are deep. Pairs have one or two nests, which are used in alternate years if more than one, but for successive breeding attempts if only one. Martial Eagle nests are built invariably in trees, at any height from 20 to 80 feet above ground, but often in the largest tree in the area, growing on a steep hillside or in a gorge, where the bird has a clear sweep off the nest. It is not known to eat carrion at all except possibly dead lambs. It will evidently eat whatever is available, with a preference for game-birds, hyrax, and poultry. Carnivores like mongoose are sometimes taken, even occasionally Serval Cat and Jackal also a few snakes and large lizards. In other areas the diet is largely mammalian, especially hyrax and small antelopes.Īnimals as large as an Impala calf are taken, and some monkeys, also occasionally young domestic goats, and lambs. Birds as large as a European Stork are recorded to have fallen prey to the Martial Eagle. In some areas birds form an important part of the diet, including guineafowl, francolins, bustards, and poultry. The immature bird looks quite different from the adult. The upperparts are dark brown with a white belly with black streaks, the legs are white and has very large talons. The largest eagle in Africa, the Martial eagle weighs in at almost 14 pounds (6.5 Kg.) and has a wingspan of about 6 feet 4 inches. They reputedly have enough power in one foot to break a man's arm.
AppearanceMartial Eagles are the largest of the African eagles and incredibly powerful, capable of knocking an adult man off his feet. © Brett Hilton-Barber Latin NamePolemaetus bellicosus.
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