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Terathopius ecaudatus
"Bateleur" is French for "tight-rope walker". This name describes the bird’s characteristic habit of tipping the ends of its wings when flying, as if catching its balance. In some countries, outside of its natural distribution, the Bateleur is occasionally known as the "Conifer Eagle" or even "Pine Eagle", since its feathers somewhat resemble a conifer cone when it fluffs itself up.
In 2009, the Bateleur was placed in the Near-Threatened IUCN Red List Category due to loss of habitat, pesticides, capture for international trade and nest disturbance. Decline of the species is suspected to have been moderately rapid over the past three generations. Current conservation efforts are unknown.
This male and female Bateleur Eagles where in a rehabilitation centre near the Kruger. They house any injured wild life animal. Most of the birds get brought it that flew into electrical wires are never released due to wing loss or that they simply wont survive in the wild. They then become ambassadors of their species, and these two a fine pair.
Spotted on Nov 2, 2011
Submitted on Aug 7, 2012
2 Comments
indeed! we saw a few in Kruger NP, but always too far for a good shot!
I have also seen them a few times in the wild, it are magnificent birds !!