FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized eagle that can be found in the regions of South Africa, the Sahara desert, and regions in the Middle East. Bateleurs have a bright red face with a short tail. Males have black feathers, while females have brownish-gray feathers. Females can lay up to only one egg at a time, and the young birds have a greenish-blue facial feature. Bateleurs (Terathopius ecaudatus) have a fairly long life span as compared to other animals. These birds of prey mainly feed on other small animals and birds like doves, pigeons, and rodents. They are currently endangered and conservation measures are underway to save this species from extinction. Hunting and poisoning are among the many reasons for such a rapid and huge decline in their population. They belong to the family of Accipitridae and are of genus Terathopius.
If you are fascinated by the Bateleur, then you may want to continue reading our other amazing facts about them. If you want to learn more about different animals, you can read up on Birds of Paradise and harpy eagle.
The Bateleur eagle is an eagle of medium size that can be found in the regions of Africa.
The bateleur eagle belongs to the Aves class. Its scientific name is Terathopius ecaudatus.
The current population of these endangered birds in the world stands at 10,000 to 100,000. There has been a decrease in their population over the years. Habitat loss is one of the primary reasons, along with hunting as well as their tendency to feed on carcasses which are often filled with pesticides.
The habitat of a Bateleur eagle includes the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, southwestern regions of the Middle East, south of the Sahara desert, and Namibia.
A Bateleur eagle can be found in different kinds of woodland habitats such as broad-leaved woodlands, and closed-canopy savannah woodlands. Very rarely, it can be seen in dense forests
Bateleur eagles are solitary creatures and tend to move alone or in pairs, without traveling in groups.
The average lifespan of a Bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) is generally 27 years. They are long-lived creatures, in comparison to other species.
The breeding season of a Bateleur eagle differs from region to region, so does the longevity of the breeding season. In the regions of West Africa, September to May is considered to be their breeding season, followed by December to August in the regions of southern Africa. While on the other hand, they breed throughout the whole year in east Africa. They are monogamous by nature and they mate for life. The incubation period for females is generally 55 days, following which the the one egg laid at at a time by the female Bateleur eagle hatches.
The Bateleur eagle is currently listed as an Endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Habitat loss and death due to pesticides are some of the reasons for their huge decline in their numbers. Conservation activities are being followed to prevent them from going extinct.
One of the most unique features about Bateleurs or this bird of prey is that they have a very short tail, unlike other species of birds. Male Bateleur eagles have black feathers with white underwing. Its face is bright red in color with brown eyes, and has no feathers. Its legs are also red in color. Females, on the other hand, are covered with brownish-gray feathers and are larger in size than males.
A Bateleur eagle may not be cute, but they are beautiful and majestic to look at. Given their unique colorization of feathers, it is not hard to differentiate this species from others.
Bateleur eagles communicate with one another through a variety of vocalizations like barks and screams. They are generally silent by nature but can turn very defensive if someone tries to enter their territory.
Bateleurs are medium-sized birds and the average length of an adult Bateleur eagle generally ranges from 22-28 in (55-70 cm). They are smaller in size than the Philippine eagle, which is the largest eagle in the world.
The flying speed of a Bateleur eagle ranges from 35-50 mph (56-80 kph). The wingspan of an adult bird is 6 ft (186 cm).
The weight of these birds ranges from 4-5 lb (2-2.6 kg ). Females are usually larger in size than males.
There is no gender-specific name for a Bateleur eagle. Males are called male Bateleur eagles, and females are called female Bateleur eagles.
A baby Bateleur eagle goes by the name of 'fledgling' or 'eagle'. They are long-lived birds and females can lay up to only one egg at a time.
The diet of Bateleurs generally includes other smaller birds like doves or pigeons, small reptiles like snakes, and small mammals like rodents. Very often, they may also feed on insects or on carrion.
No, Bateleur eagles are not dangerous. They are shy around humans and can be easily tamed when kept in captivity, like in a zoo.
No, these wild birds should not be kept as a pet. Although, they are shy around humans and can be tamed easily, their population is decreasing rapidly. They have been listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
A Bateleur eagle has a unique movement of swaying its wings from side to side while in the air. It also performs brilliant and acrobatic display flights during its courtship rituals. For this reason, they are known as 'bateleur', which means 'acrobat' in French.
These birds are known to spend as long as eight to nine hours in the air while searching for their prey.
Snake-eagles and serpent-eagles are other species of birds, alongside Bateleur eagles, who hunt snakes. They identify their prey while flying up in the air and after seeing a snake, they drop down to catch their prey.
Bateleur eagles are currently listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This is because they face the threat of extinction due to practices like poaching and the poisoning of carrion. The latter poses a grave threat as some farmers poison dead cattle in order to kill and ward off predators like hyenas. In the process, they inadvertently end up poisoning species like the Bateleur eagle who scavenge on carrion. Conservation practices such as awareness programs are underway in order to mitigate such instances of accidental poisoning.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including stork, or green heron.
You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Bateleur eagle coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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