Fun Bateleur Eagle Facts For Kids

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.
 

What type of animal is a Bateleur eagle?

The Bateleur eagle is an eagle of medium size that can be found in the regions of Africa.

What class of animal does a Bateleur eagle belong to?

The bateleur eagle belongs to the Aves class. Its scientific name is Terathopius ecaudatus.

How many Bateleur eagles are there in the world?

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.

Where does a Bateleur eagle live?

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.

What is a Bateleur eagle's habitat?

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

Who do Bateleur eagles live with?

Bateleur eagles are solitary creatures and tend to move alone or in pairs, without traveling in groups.

How long does a Bateleur eagle live?

The average lifespan of a Bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) is generally 27 years. They are long-lived creatures, in comparison to other species.

How do they reproduce?

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.

What is their conservation status?

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.

What do Bateleur eagles look like?

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.

How cute are they?

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.

How do they communicate?

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.

How big is a Bateleur eagle?

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.

How fast can a Bateleur eagle fly?

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).

How much does a Bateleur eagle weigh?

The weight of these birds ranges from 4-5 lb (2-2.6 kg ). Females are usually larger in size than males.

What are their male and female names of the species?

There is no gender-specific name for a Bateleur eagle. Males are called male Bateleur eagles, and females are called female Bateleur eagles.

What would you call a baby Bateleur eagle?

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.

What do they eat?

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.

Are they dangerous?

No, Bateleur eagles are not dangerous. They are shy around humans and can be easily tamed when kept in captivity, like in a zoo.

Would they make a good pet?

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).

Did you know...

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.

Do Bateleur eagles hunt snakes?

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.

What are the threats to Bateleur eagles?

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.