Madagascar fish-eagle

Description

The Madagascan fish eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) 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.It is endemic to the coastal strip in the northwest of Madagascar.It is about 63 cm (25 in) long and has a pale brown head,dark brown body and white tail.The Madagascan fish eagle has been suffering from a declining population and is threatened by habitat destruction and persecution,and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "critically endangered".The Madagascan fish eagle is a medium-sized sea eagle,60–66 cm (23.5–26 in) long and with a wingspan of 165–180 cm (65–71 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.[page needed] Males weigh 2.2–2.6 kg (4.9–5.7 lb),while the slightly larger females weigh 2.8–3.5 kg (6.2–7.7 lb).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 unlike other Haliaeetus species,they always have at least partially white tails,even while juvenile.As in other sea-eagle species pairs,one species (the Madagascan fish eagle in this case) has a tan head,while the other has a white one.[page needed]