Wahlberg's Eagle

The Wahlberg's Eagle (Aquila wahlbergi) is a bird of prey. It is about 53–61 cm (21–24 in) in length with a wingspan of 130–146 cm (51–58 in) and a body mass of 437–845 g (15.25–29.5 oz) for males and 670–1400 g (1.47–3.08 lb) for females on average. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae.

Wahlberg's Eagle breeds in most of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a bird of woodland, often near water. It builds a stick nest in the fork of a tree or the crown of a palm tree. The clutch is one or two eggs.

Wahlberg's Eagle is a medium-sized raptor. The plumage is dark brown except for dark streaked grey undersides to the flight feathers, and a barred grey undertail. The head has a small crest, and the legs are yellow.

There is a pale variant which is much lighter brown with whitish, rather than grey undertail and flight feather undersides. Sexes are similar.

In flight, this species is very cross-shaped, with long evenly wide wings, a slim body and long narrow square-ended tail. The wings are held very flat.

Wahlberg's Eagle hunts reptiles, small mammals and birds. The call is a whistled kleeah-kleeah-kleeah.

This bird is named after the Swedish naturalist Johan August Wahlberg.