a very rare sighting - a photo on Flickriver

            our guide with 20+ years of experience had never seen a pair of Bateleur eagles mating. 
Photo taken in the Ndutu  area in the southeastern Serengeti, Tanzania 

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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All rights reserved. Fons Buts©2023
My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission

   

Taken on: January 15, 2023

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