IN ALL ITS GLORY: The African fish eagle, the national symbol of five nations, soars above the continent’s waterways, waiting to swoop for prey
Eagles are undeniably compelling. As predators, they occupy a similar ecological role to that of cats and other earthbound mammals, using supreme hunting prowess and a formidable array of weaponry to capture an enormous variety of prey. Such powers have long imbued them with emblematic status in human culture, from the golden eagle standard of imperial Rome to the bald eagle seal of the USA.
The African fish eagle alone is the national symbol of five nations. Africa is home to 25 of some 69 eagle species now recognised worldwide. All belong to the Accipitridae family of diurnal raptors, alongside the likes of buzzards, kites and vultures. They range from the martial eagle, which may top 6kg and can kill a small antelope, to the pigeon-sized but no less rapacious booted eagle, which captures birds in flight.