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Bateleur at dawn

female of this beautiful and peculiar eagle species in Mara North Conservancy, Kenya

 

IUCN Red List Status: Endangered

 

The Bateleur is a mid-sized African eagle with long wings and a very short tail. It lives in partially open savanna country and woodland within Sub-Saharan Africa. The adults have spectacular colors but the juveniles have a quite uniform brown colors. It may take up to 8 years before the birds have the full adult plumage.

Bateleur is the French word for "tightrope-walker", this aptly describes its distinctive, erratic and unstable manner of flying; the rocking flight motion very much mimics the side-to-side movement of a tight rope walker maintaining his balance. The species also demonstrates some spectacular aerial displays, particularly during courtship.

They prey on mammals (often rodents), birds and reptiles. While looking for food they stay up in the air for up to 8 hours and cover huge distances. Carrion is also a part of their diet, especially for juvenile and immature birds. Many carcasses are often first detected by a Bateleur ( or a Tawny Eagle ) well before the vultures arrive

 

Terathopius ecaudatus

bateleur

Bateleur des savanes

Gaukler

Águila Volatinera

Falco giocoliere

águia-bailarina

 

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Uploaded on December 18, 2024
Taken on November 9, 2024