The largest eagle in Africa, the martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is native to sub-Saharan Africa. Its name is derived from the latin word Martialis, meaning ‘from Mars’, who was the Roman god of war. Its scientific name is rooted in Latin words meaning fierce, war-like and eager to attack and indicates the force, brashness and indefatigable nature of their hunting habits. For example, it sometimes preys upon the adult kori bustard, which may well be the heaviest flying animal alive today. It can be identified by the blackish-brown spotting on its white underparts.
