Martial Eagle

Afrikaans name: Breëkoparend

Photo © Alta Oosthuizen - Fotolia.com

Polemaetus bellicosus

Although it is not a common bird the magnificent Martial Eagle has been recorded over virtually the whole of South Africa.

Martial Eagles can reach a weight of 6 kg and have a wingspan of 2.6 metres.

This powerful bird swoops down on its prey for a height and can take mammals up to the size of an Impala. It has been recorded taking other mammals such as Warthogs, Chacma Baboons, Caracal, hares and rabbits and Rock Hyrax. Larger reptiles such as the Rock Monitor and Nile Monitor are eaten as well as some bigger birds.

A male and female establish a bond and stick together for a number of years. They lay their eggs in a massive nest in a tree. The nest is built by the female.

One egg is the normal clutch size and it is tended to by the female. Although the chick leaves the nest at about 3 months old it will still use the nest as a roosting spot for a number of months.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	142	Polemaetus bellicosus
2nd	142	Polemaetus bellicosus
3rd	142	Polemaetus bellicosus
4th	142	Polemaetus bellicosus
5th	140	Polemaetus bellicosus
6th	140	Polemaetus bellicosus
7th	394	Polemaetus bellicosus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	142	Martial Eagle
2nd	142	Martial Eagle
3rd	142	Martial Eagle
4th	142	Martial Eagle
5th	140	Martial Eagle
6th	140	Martial Eagle
7th	394	Martial Eagle

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	142	Breëkop-arend
2nd	142	Breëkop-arend
3rd	142	Breëkop-arend
4th	142	Breëkop-arend
5th	140	Breëkoparend
6th	140	Breëkoparend
7th	394	Breëkoparend

References and further reading

Wild Issue 29 - Author: - Published: 2014 - Page: 36

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 62

Wild Issue 23 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 12

Vanishing Eagles - Author: Philip Burton - Published: 1987 - Page: 121

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Published: 1984 - Page: 49

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 152

Southern Africas Threatened Wildlife - Author: John Ledger - Published: 1990 - Page: 48

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 56

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 113

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 94

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 96

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Published: 1998 - Page: 74

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 121

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 125

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 103

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 95

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 162

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 75

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 168

Know your Birds of Prey - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 33

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 168

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 409

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 76

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 158

Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Published: 1989 - Page: 716

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 140

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 58

Eagle Days - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1973 - Page: 75

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 50

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 19

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 17

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 54

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 41

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 74

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 103

Birds of Prey of the World - Author: Friedhelm Weick - Published: 1980 - Page: 118

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 76

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 64

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 106

African Wildlife - A photographic safari - Author: Nigel and Wendy Dennis - Published: 1999 - Page: 92

African Wildlife - International Edition - Vol 35 No 4 - Author: - Published: 1981 - Page: 37

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 8

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Published: 1970 - Page: 112

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 131

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 71

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 131

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List of South African Birds