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

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

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusHaliaeetus (Northern Sea-Eagles and Fish-Eagles)
SpeciesHaliaeetus vocifer (African Fish-Eagle)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

1 Verified sightings at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park From 2019 to 2026

23,154 Verified sightings across all 49 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Melierax canorus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Aquila rapax

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Gyps africanus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Polemaetus bellicosus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Micronisus gabar

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Terathopius ecaudatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Circaetus pectoralis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Torgos tracheliotos

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Milvus migrans

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Elanus caeruleus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Circaetus cinereus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Circus macrourus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

African Fish-Eagle

About the African Fish-Eagle

Recent sightings of African Fish-Eagle in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Tawny Eagle

White-backed Vulture

Martial Eagle

Gabar Goshawk

Bateleur

Black-breasted Snake Eagle

Lappet-faced Vulture

Black Kite

Black-winged Kite

Brown Snake Eagle

Pale Harrier

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found