Scientific Name:
Terathopius ecaudatus
Distribution
Africa, widespread south of the savannah desert , west to Cameroon and east into southwest Arabia.
Diet:
Small antelopes, mice, hedgehogs, hare, squirrels, birds, snakes, lizards, carrion
Facts
Habitat: grassland, acacia-bush-tree savannah
Incubation: 52-59 days, 1 egg per season
Social structure: solitary, pairs or sometimes in groups of over 20 individuals
Weight: max 2,9 kg
Dimensions: length: max 70cm, wingspan: max 1,8 m
Lifespan: 20-25 years in the wild, up to 55 years under human care
IUCN Status: Near threatened
Estimated population in the wild: 10.000-100.000, decreasing
Threats: hunting and poisoning, persecution, nest disturbances, habitat loss
Did you know that:
- Flying relatively low, this species scans the ground for signs of food and, when sighted, it descends in a tight spiral to investigate.
- The Bateleur’s courtship is spectacular and involves the male diving down upon the female while in flight and making incredibly loud wing claps, audible over a great distance.
- Only 2% of the chicks make it to adulthood.
- The Bateleur’s short tail allows it to rock side to side in flight, while it is rapidly soaring. Its name Bateleur means “tight-rope walker”.
- Bateleur eagles can soar over great distances (more than 200 km) in search of food.