Fun Madagascar Fish Eagle: 15 Facts You Won't Believe! Facts For Kids

Iram Ashfaq
Nov 17, 2022 By Iram Ashfaq
Originally Published on Aug 06, 2021
Edited by Luca Demetriou
A list of refreshing Madagascar fish eagle facts for you.
?
Age: 3-18
Read time: 8.0 Min

The Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) is an endangered population in the world. These critically endangered Madagascar fish eagles are found only on Madagascar, and they have a difficult time with hunting for food because of their prey, fish, being isolated from the ocean.

In Madagascar, the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) is a protected bird. It is also one of the most popular birds in captivity.

The reason for this popularity in zoos and aquariums is because of its colors and its ability to be trained through operant conditioning.

In the wild, these eagles live on riversides where they hunt small reptiles, mammals, crabs, or amphibians that come near their nest area. Madagascar fish eagles build nests from sticks high up in trees near water sources like streams or lakes.

If there are no trees around, they will settle for any location with an elevation that overlooks water source like a cliffside or embankment which would provide them with a good vantage point while hunting prey below them. The Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) is a medium-sized eagle with dark brownish plumage.

It has a white head, neck, and tail feathers. Juvenile fish eagles are much darker than adults and they have light streaking on their breast and belly.

In order to capture prey or avoid predators, these birds of prey use their excellent vision which makes them adept hunters in a dense forest habitat where visibility is limited by vegetation!

Many people don't know about Madagascar fish eagles. They are also an endangered species and their conservation is very important.

The biggest threat they face is loss of habitat due to deforestation for timber harvesting or conversion into rice paddies. Helping protect these beautiful birds from extinction by planting trees or donating today!

For more relatable content, check out these palm cockatoo facts and birds of paradise facts for kids.

Madagascar Fish Eagle Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Madagascar fish eagle?

The Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) is a type of bird that lives near lakes.

What class of animal does a Madagascar fish eagle belong to?

The Madagascar fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) belongs to the class of animals known as Aves, which also includes other prominent birds like hawks!

How many Madagascar fish eagles are there in the world?

There are less than 500 living members left in this species, so it is important that we continue doing all that we can to preserve these wonderful creatures!

Where does a Madagascar fish eagle live?

The Madagascar fish eagle lives in rainforests, but can be found near coastal regions often! The Madagascar fish eagle can be found throughout the forested swamps, rivers, coasts, mangroves as well as lakes with dry land nearby for nesting purposes. They are typically solitary creatures who roost on trees near water sources at night.

What is a Madagascar fish eagle's habitat?

The Madagascar fish eagle habitat is very confined! Inhabiting the South African Coast, these critically endangered birds of prey can be spotted soaring overseas or perched in trees along the west coast of Madagascar.

Who does Madagascar fish eagle live with?

The birds of prey, Madagascar fish eagles, live in large clans consisting of their own kin including both adults and juveniles from the same nest or nesting territory year after year.

How long does a Madagascar fish eagle live?

In the diverse and unique environment of Madagascar, the population of these majestic birds of the genus Haliaeetus is found in a variety of habitats from humid rainforests to dry savannahs. The average Madagascar fish-eagle life span that they can obtain ranges anywhere between 20-30 years old! The Madagascar fish eagle lifespan is quite good after all!

How do they reproduce?

They typically build their nests out of sticks in forests near waterfalls so they are always close by for fishing.

Male fish eagles will lure females into mating with them using food offerings like dead small animals such as rats before mating on an open perch away from the nest site.

The eggs take about 45-60 days until hatching during which time both parents feed it constantly making frequent trips back to get a range of fresh supplies while one stays at home incubating the eggs and protecting its clutch against predators!

What is their conservation status?

Their conservation status is IUCN red list of Critically Endangered animals! The large eagle is found solely on the island range of Madagascar off Africa's eastern coast.

It was never native anywhere else before humans invaded its territory centuries ago. Besides destroying forests by clearing large trees for farms or mining minerals like iron ore, people have also depleted rivers and streams where these majestic creatures once thrived close up against waterfalls!

Madagascar Fish Eagle Fun Facts

What does Madagascar fish eagle look like?

The Madagascar fish eagle is known for its large dark brown and white wings, talons, and yellow iris. The head of the eagle has a red crest on top with lots of black feathers underneath it.

These birds have long tails that are used to help steer their flight patterns through dense forests in Madagascar.

Madagascar sea eagles, raptors of the world, have wings that are long and thin compared to other eagles like eagles or falcons.

The head of this Madagascar sea eagle features an impressively huge beak which it uses for catching fish in rivers and lakes across its habitat range; however, they have been found at sea, too, and hence called sea eagles too!

Its feathers on top of their heads appear lighter than those underneath giving them a shaggy appearance with dark brown stripes along their backs that fade into white towards the tail end.

The Madagascar fish eagle feeding habits will fascinate you.

How cute are they?

The Madagascar fish eagle is one of the most beautiful raptor species in all of Africa. Some people might not realize that these fierce-looking birds of prey creature's names come from their diet and nesting habits, which primarily consist of fish!

If not for their IUCN red list status, you would just want to grab one and take home with you!

How do they communicate?

Madagascar fish eagles are large birds of prey that can be identified by the distinct black and white coloration of their feathers. They are often seen soaring high up in the sky, looking for prey to hunt down below them while they're flying.

These birds have an interesting way of communicating with each other: when one eagle sees food on land or sea it will fly back into its nest and make loud calls until another eagle joins it then both eagles go hunting together!

How big is a Madagascar fish eagle?

The mighty Madagascar fish eagle is a force all on its own; with an average height of 22-26 in (62-68 cm), it reigns as one of the largest raptors of the world. Despite this impressive stature, these eagles are surprisingly small when compared to other members of the family around Africa and Asia.

How fast can a Madagascar fish eagle fly?

These raptors travel up to 100 mi (160 km) a day in search of prey, often taking advantage of thermals to soar effortlessly over obstacles. These sea eagle species can reach speeds between 55-80 mph (90-130 kph) when chasing their prey!

How much does a Madagascar fish eagle weigh?

The Madagascar fish eagle is a beautiful creature. They're identifiable by their white head and tail feathers with black patches on them, as well as the yellow beak that they have along with dark brown pairs of eyes. The average size of these birds of the world is 4.5-5.8 lb (2-2.5 kg)!

What are their male and female names of the species?

The Madagascar fish eagle, with both a male and female variant of the species being present, has no specific terms. They are both generally known as Madagascar fish eagles!

The breeding season for these birds of prey is between November and March when they have been seen to be building nests in large trees. During the breeding season, they all stick together!

What would you call a baby Madagascar fish eagle?

A baby Madagascar fish eagle is popularly known as a chick! The Madagascar fish eagle babies are so cute that they're just adorable.

This bird of prey baby is a sight to behold. The baby bird's coat of feathers starts white and then turns black as the bird matures, but this bird of prey has been known for being intelligent!

What do they eat?

The Madagascar fish eagles have an enormous wingspan which they use to fly over vast areas of forest tracking prey like crabs, shrimps, and turtles hidden among leaves near rivers or lakes. These powerful hunters can also catch unsuspecting smaller animals such as songbirds perched nearby by striking swiftly while flying just above ground level!

Are they poisonous?

No, they are not poisonous!

Would they make a good pet?

The Madagascar fish eagle is a fascinating creature that may have been the next exotic pet, only if not for its IUCN red list status!

Did you know...

The Madagascar fish eagle is an awe-inspiring bird that can fly to a height of 10,000-15,000 ft (3-4.5 km) high. It has been said that this impressive altitude makes it the only known raptor in the air at all times on Earth!

What are fish eagle enemies?

Madagascar fish eagles are the undisputed kings of the water. From their towering height, they can survey vast distances and spot small prey animals from a great distance away with incredible precision.

Their keen eyesight is what allows them to dive into deep waters in search of food, but it also makes it hard for the fish eagle enemies to prey on them! Some of the most common predators that threaten fish eagles are owls, alligators, and hawks.

Are they loud?

The Madagascar fish eagle is a species native to the island of Madagascar. They have been known for the loud calls that they use in order to find mates and defend territory from other eagles. The sound of this bird can be described as powerful, with its call being heard far far away!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these sea eagle facts and white gyrfalcon facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Madagascar fish eagle coloring pages.

Madagascar Fish Eagle: 15 Facts You Won't Believe! Facts

What Did They Prey On?

Fish, small birds, crabs, shrimps, and turtles

What Type of Animal were they?

Carnivore

Average Litter Size?

2

How Much Did They Weigh?

4.5-5.8 lb (2-2.5 kg)

What habitat Do they Live In?

coastal nests, island, and in wild large trees

Where Do They Live?

west coast of madagascar

How Long Were They?

22-26 in (62-68 cm)

How Tall Were They?

N/A

Class

Aves

Genus

Haliaeetus

Family

Accipitridae

Scientific Name

Haliaeetus vociferoides

What Do They Look Like?

Grey, white, brown, and black

Skin Type

Feathers

What Are Their Main Threats?

humans

What is their Conservation Status?

Critically Endangered
We Want Your Photos!
We Want Your Photos!

We Want Your Photos!

Do you have a photo you are happy to share that would improve this article?
Email your photos

More for You

See All

Written by Iram Ashfaq

Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

Iram Ashfaq picture

Iram AshfaqBachelor of Dental Surgery, Master of Public Health

With a Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery from Shaney Institute of Health Sciences and a Master's degree in Public Health from Imperial College London, Iram is a highly qualified and accomplished writer from Srinagar, India. Over the course of a year, she has acquired multiple writing certifications, focusing on health sciences and research studies. Prior to joining Kidadl, Iram gained valuable experience working as a content writer for Indian firms and interning at a New York-based company. Her expertise and passion for writing shine through in her ability to create compelling content across a variety of topics.

Read full bio >