Martial Eagle, Okavango Delta, Botswana

The martial eagle is the apex predator at the top of the avian food chain throughout its range in southern and central Africa. They are very large eagles (with a wingspan of nearly 7 feet) and can be ferociously efficient hunters. Those two traits combined with their spotted chests have earned them the nickname of “leopard of the sky.” When it comes to diet, martial eagles are opportunists, preying on everything from reptiles, amphibians and small mammals to even mid-sized ungulates. Because they will attack livestock and other game, they also happen to be one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. They hunt at much higher altitudes than most raptors, mainly due to their incredible eyesight — courtesy of eyes nearly the size of a human. It is estimated that they can spot prey up to 3.7 miles away. I photographed this one in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.