Terathopius ecaudatus
Considered an ill omen in the traditional folklore of many African societies, the Bateleur is our most colourful eagle and easily identified in flight by its short tail. They get their name from their acrobatic aerial courtship displays, “bateleur” being French for acrobat. Adults have a wingspan of just under 2 meters and weigh around 2.5kg.
Bateleurs inhabit open habitats, ranging from semi-desert shrublands and grasslands to savannas and open woodlands. They prey on a variety of smaller mammals, birds, reptiles (including venomous snakes), insects and even fish and amphibians, caught from drying pools. They also include a large percentage of carrion in their diet – in fact, they are usually one of the first species to arrive at a carcass. They spend many hours daily on the wing, gliding fast and low over the ground in search of food and covering as much of 400km a day in this way!
In southern Africa, Bateleurs breed in the summer rainy season. Pairs are monogamous, staying together for life, and territorial. Nests are stick-platforms built in the canopies of tall trees, usually along water courses, and lined with leaves. The single egg is incubated for almost two months. Both parents play their part in feeding the chick, which takes its first flight when it is 3 to 4 months old and becomes independent about 7 months after hatching. Young Bateleurs are highly nomadic until they establish their own pairbonds and territories.
The Bateleur’s natural distribution extends over most of sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of the driest deserts and equatorial forests, with a small population on the Arabian Peninsula. Habitat loss, poaching and poisoning is causing Bateleur populations to decline all over their range and they are becoming increasingly restricted to the large game reserves and national parks. It is now listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN, and considered vulnerable in South Africa. South Africa’s biggest population occurs in and around the Kruger National Park, estimated at around 600 breeding pairs, while elsewhere in the country they are now only to be found in the reserves of northern Kwazulu-Natal, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, along the Limpopo valley, and in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park while they were previously much more widespread.
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I’ve never realised their numbers are declining, as we have been rewarded with sightings on almost every visit to the Kruger. Are they poisoned by chemicals intended to kill (poach) other wildlife, and should be considered ‘collateral damage’?
Horribly enough, some of it is targeted poisoning to provide for the “muti” markets, Maurice.
Nou verlang ek weer na my Bosveld dae. Ek het vir n tydperk skoolgehou op n “ou” plaas. Die buitegeboue was klaskamers. Soggens vroeg as ek skooltoe gery het of laat middag was daar gereeld n enkele Bateleur sien vlieg. Is Berghaan hul Afrikaanse naam? Ek sien jy noem dit so in Tina se opmerking.
Dis reg ja, Ineke. Sy Afrikaanse naam is Berghaan. Vandag sal dit hoogs ongewoon wees om n Berghaan in daardie geweste te sien, met die dat hulle so skaars word.
Dit moes n paar gewees het met n nes nie ver van die skool af nie. Ek het die gedig die berggans(wat ek gedog het was berghaan) opgesoek. Daar is n interessante stukkie oor gedig en dan ook hoekom nie Berghaan maar Berggans. https://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/die-berggans-het-n-veer-laat-val/
At least they are pretty looking compared to our ugly Turkey Vulture! Now those are some ugly birds! 🙂
I think they must be on opposite ends of the beauty scale! 😀
LOL !! 🙂
Pragtig!
Die Berghane is skouspelagtige voels ne, Tina?
Eintlik is alle voëls spesiaal … heeltemal anders as enige ander
Baie beslis, Tina
I love the contrasts in their wing feathers. Beautiful birds.
Once seen, never forgotten!
I hope I will see this species when we go to Tanzania on safari in February!
We’ll hold thumbs with you!
Enjoy your trip – you must be looking forward to it with great excitement!
They are beautiful… I love birds!!! I am fascinated by the way they live!!
Then we certainly have something in common, @Pandorica. Welcome here!
They are magnificent birds. I have seen them in Kruger and also they occasionally visit my sister’s farm. I am so sorry that they are under threat.
Considering how threatened they’ve become outside our big reserves it is heartening to hear that they still traverse the Midlands from time to time, Kim!
I never tire of watching the mighty bateleur. Great photos and post.
Thanks, Jet. Such a pity though that it is becoming an ever rarer sight…
It´s a really beautiful and colorful eagle. That´s a little unusual for a bird of prey, but up in the air they maybe have good camouflage.
I suppose their way of life negates the need for cryptic camouflage, so they could afford to become show-offs!
I love the erect, alert look that birds of prey have. This one’s a beauty.
janet
No wonder so many coats of arms and other heraldry feature birds of prey!
So beautiful!
Aren’t they!?
Yes truly!