African Fish-Eagle
African Fish-EagleAfrican Fish-EagleAfrican Fish-Eagle

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

Silhouette: Ron Holmes/U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (source photo), T. Michael Keesey (vectorization) · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
at Akagera National Park
621 Verified sightings at Akagera National Park From 2019 to 2026
23,154 Verified sightings across all 49 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the African Fish-Eagle

The African fish eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer) or the African sea eagle is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the national bird of Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages. Examples of names include: visarend in Afrikaans, nkwazi in Chewa, aigle pêcheur in French, idì in Yoruba, hungwe in Shona, inkwazi in isiZulu, and ntšhu in Northern Sotho. Though this species may superficially resemble the bald eagle in appearance they are not closely related and the two species occur on different continents, with the bald eagle being endemic to North America.

The African fish eagle is a species placed in the genus Icthyophaga (fish eagles). Its closest relative appears to be the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle (I. vociferoides). Like all sea eagle species pairs, this one consists of a white-headed species (the African fish eagle) and a tan-headed one (Madagascar fish eagle). These are an ancient lineage of sea eagles; like other sea eagles, they have dark talons, beaks, and eyes. Both species have at least partially... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Akagera National Park

Bateleur
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Long-crested Eagle
LC

Long-crested Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophaetus occipitalis

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Black-winged Kite
LC

Black-winged Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus caeruleus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Palmnut Vulture
LC

Palmnut Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gypohierax angolensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Brown Snake Eagle
LC

Brown Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinereus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
African Harrier-Hawk
LC

African Harrier-Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polyboroides typus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
African Marsh-Harrier
LC

African Marsh-Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus ranivorus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Augur Buzzard
LC

Augur Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo augur

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Lizard Buzzard
LC

Lizard Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Banded Snake-Eagle
LC

Banded Snake-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinerascens

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~80%
2 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~70%
3 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~70%
4 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~70%
5 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~70%
6 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~70%
7 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~70%
8 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~60%
9 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~60%
10 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~60%
11 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~60%
12 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
13 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~50%
14 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
15 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~50%
16 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~50%
17 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
18 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
19 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
20 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
21 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
22 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~30%
23 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
24 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
25 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
26 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
27 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~20%
28 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
29 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
30 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
31 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
32 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
33 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
34 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
35 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
36 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
37 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
38 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
39 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
40 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
41 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
42 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
43 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
44 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
45 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
46 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
47 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
48 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
49 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a African Fish-Eagle in Akagera National Park?

About 70% of wildlife watchers report a African Fish-Eagle sighting in Akagera National Park, based on 621 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see African Fish-Eagle in Akagera National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for African Fish-Eagle in Akagera National Park in our monthly data.

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