Martial Eagle
Martial EagleMartial EagleMartial EagleMartial Eagle

Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Garden Route National Park
10 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026
9,029 Verified sightings across all 51 parks From 2019 to 2026
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Martial Eagle

The martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member of the genus Polemaetus. A species of the booted eagle subfamily (Aquilinae), it has feathers over its tarsus. One of the largest and most powerful species of booted eagle, it is a fairly opportunistic predator that varies its prey selection between mammals, birds and reptiles. It is one of few eagle species known to hunt primarily from a high soar, by stooping on its quarry. This species, an inhabitant of wooded belts of otherwise open savanna, has shown a precipitous decline in the last few centuries due to a variety of factors. The martial eagle is one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. Due to its habit of taking livestock and regionally valuable game, local farmers and game wardens frequently seek to eliminate martial eagles, although the effect of eagles on this prey is almost certainly considerably exaggerated. Currently, the martial eagle is classified with the status of Endangered by the IUCN.

The martial eagle can be found in most of sub-Saharan Africa, wherever food is abundant and the environment favourable. With a total estimated distribution... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Garden Route National Park

Jackal Buzzard
LC

Jackal Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo rufofuscus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
African Fish-Eagle
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Forest Buzzard
NT

Forest Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo trizonatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Long-crested Eagle
LC

Long-crested Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophaetus occipitalis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Black-winged Kite
LC

Black-winged Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus caeruleus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Marsh-Harrier
LC

African Marsh-Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus ranivorus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Booted Eagle
LC

Booted Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hieraaetus pennatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Common Buzzard
LC

Common Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo buteo

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
African Harrier-Hawk
LC

African Harrier-Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polyboroides typus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Pale Chanting Goshawk
LC

Pale Chanting Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax canorus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Cape Griffon
VU

Cape Griffon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps coprotheres

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Martial Eagle in Garden Route National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Martial Eagle sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Martial Eagle in Garden Route National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Martial Eagle in Garden Route National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Garden Route National Park