Madagascar Fish Eagle

Taxobox
name = Madagascar Fish-eagle
status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down

---

image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Falconiformes
familia = Accipitridae
genus = "Haliaeetus"
species = "H. vociferoides"
binomial = "Haliaeetus vociferoides"
binomial_authority = Des Murs, 1845

The Madagascar Fish-eagle ("Haliaeetus vociferoides" [Etymology: "Haliaeetus", New Latin for "sea-eagle". "vociferoides", from Latin "vocifer", the specific name of the African Fish-eagle + "-oides", "likeness of". This is in allusion to the conspicuous yelping calls which, when sitting, are given with the head fully thrown to the back, a peculiarity found among sea-eagles only in this and the African species.] ) or Madagascar Sea-eagle (to distinguish it from the "Ichthyophaga" fishing-eagles), is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. The range of this eagle is within the Madagascar dry deciduous forests. It is a medium-sized sea-eagle, 70-80 cm (28-32 in) long and with a wingspan of 200 cm (79 in). The body and wings are dark brown, with a pale brown head and a white tail; the bill is blackish with a paler base, and the legs are pale grey.del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. (1994). "Handbook of the Birds of the World" Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona ISBN 84-87334-15-6.] Males weigh 2.2-2.6 kg (4.8-5.7 lbs), while the slightly larger female weighs 2.8-3.5 kg (6.2-7.7 lbs). [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Haliaeetus_vociferoides/more_info.html?section=factsAndStatus]

Its closest relative is the African Fish-eagle, "Haliaeetus vocifer". Together, they form a distinct species pair lineage of sea-eagles, which separated soon after the divergence of the genus; they retain the ancestral dark beak, talon, and eye, but as opposed to other "Haliaeetus" species, their tails are always at least partially white even in juveniles. Like in other sea-eagle species pairs, one species (the Madagascar Fish-eagle in this case) has a tan head, while the other has a white one.

This species is endemic to Madagascar, where it survives in low numbers along the west coast. The main threats to its breeding habitat are deforestation, soil erosion and the development of wetland areas for rice-paddies. It is also in direct competition with humans for fish stocks.

Distribution

This species is considered confined to the northwest coast of Madagascar north of Morondava. [ [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/species/data/species_sheets/fisheagl.htm United Nations Environment Programme: Madagascar Fish Eagle] ] : The principal locus of population according to the United Nations Environmental Programme is in the Analova region; 20 to 25 breeding pairs were there as of the 1980s. A more recent survey by Garbutt and Hogan report a smaller concentration of at least three breeding pairs in the Anjajavy Forest along the Indian Ocean, where several streams discharge north of Anjajavy Village. [ [http://www.luminatechnologies.org/luminawws.html Nick Garbutt, C. Michael Hogan, Hilton Hastings, Wendy Pollecutt, Tahiana Andriaharimalala, "Anjajavy, the village and the forest", Lumina Technologies, May 12, 2006] ] Total population estimates from the United Nations and from Grambo [Rebecca L. Grambo, "Eagles" (1999) Published by Voyageur Press, Inc.] place the world population of this species at about 40 breeding pairs; according to Grambo this bird may be one of the rarest birds on Earth. Other surveys between 1991 and 1995 recorded at least 222 adults from 105 sites, with an estimated 99 breeding pairs.

References

* Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is critically endangered, and the criteria used
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3362&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]