Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusPolemaetus (Martial Eagles)
SpeciesPolemaetus bellicosus (Martial Eagle)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Waterberg Plateau Park

4 Verified sightings at Waterberg Plateau Park From 2019 to 2026

9,029 Verified sightings across all 51 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Waterberg Plateau Park

Aquila verreauxii

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Aquila spilogaster

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Melierax canorus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Elanus caeruleus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Circaetus pectoralis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Buteo rufofuscus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Gyps coprotheres

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Buteo augur

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Gyps africanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Aquila rapax

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Micronisus gabar

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Milvus migrans

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

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	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

← Back to Waterberg Plateau Park

Martial Eagle

About the Martial Eagle

Recent sightings of Martial Eagle in Waterberg Plateau Park

Closest Relatives at Waterberg Plateau Park

Verreaux's Eagle

African Hawk-Eagle

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Black-winged Kite

Black-breasted Snake Eagle

Jackal Buzzard

Cape Griffon

Augur Buzzard

White-backed Vulture

Tawny Eagle

Gabar Goshawk

Black Kite

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found