 | Quick Facts |  |
|  | Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Terathopius
Species: ecaudatus
Length: 21 - 27 inches
Weight: 4 - 6 lbs
Wing span: 72 - 84 inches
Incubation: 52 - 59 days
Offspring: 1
Life Span: 20 - 25 years
| |  |
|
Bateleur EagleTerathopius ecaudatus |  |
The Bateleur eagle is the most famous of the snake eagles. Bateleur is
French for "tightrope-walker". This name was probably chosen because of its
distinctive aerial acrobatics. Its pitch black feathers with white under the
wings, bright red face and legs and black beak are characteristic markings. Unlike most creatures, female Bateleur eagles are larger than males.
Bateleur eagles spend 8-9 hours each day in the air looking for food.
Their diet includes antelope, mice, birds, snakes, and carrion .
The Bateleur eagle is found throughout Africa south of the Sahara. It
prefers tree and brush savanna.
Bateleur eagles pair for life and stay in the same nest for several years.
Unpaired adults can sometimes be seen near a nest site. This bird is not
rejected by the mating pair and does not help with nesting.
A female will lay single egg in a nest that sits in a large tree that
offers protection. Mother incubates the egg while father collects food and
sticks for the nest. Sometimes, however, the father incubates. After an
incubation period of 52-59 days, the baby Bateleur eagle hatches. 110 days
later, the hatchling will leave the nest, but will continue to receive food
from its parents for another 100 days. Only 2% of chicks make it to
adulthood.
|
|
