The African Fish Eagle was one of the birds I most wanted to see even before arriving in Uganda. With its powerful build and striking presence, it feels like a raptor straight out of a dark fantasy manga such as Berserk.
Its bold posture and commanding silhouette make it one of the most impressive birds of prey in Africa
Observations in Queen Elizabeth and Lake Mburo
We were fortunate to observe both adults and juveniles in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.
Both birds were perched, as their name suggests, in trees near water. Often, we only noticed them after scanning the shoreline carefully. In total, we encountered the species three to four times, suggesting that it may be relatively common in suitable habitat.
A Favorite: The Dark Juvenile
Among the sightings, the dark-plumaged juvenile stood out to me. Its mostly black appearance gave it a more intense and dramatic look compared to the classic white-headed adult.
Something about its eyes and expression reminded me of a “darkened” version of Griffith from Berserk, which made the bird especially memorable for me.
An Iconic African Raptor
Whether juvenile or adult, the African Fish Eagle is undeniably majestic. Its size, posture, and association with open water make it one of the defining raptors of the African landscape.
Seeing it multiple times throughout the trip reinforced just how iconic this species truly is.