Bateleurs are beautiful eagles, and always attract attention from visitors to our Kruger National Park, one of their few remaining strongholds in South Africa. Being able to watch this one gulp down a Natal Spurfowl – feathers and all – that it had killed next to the road leading to Nwanetsi from Satara is another lasting memory from our visit to Kruger Park in December 2021.
Bateleur feast
Bateleur feast
Bateleur feast
Bateleur feast (that’s a Greater Blue-eared Starling hoping for scraps)
Bateleur feast
Bateleur feast
Bateleur feast
Bateleur feast
Bateleur feast
Meal finished, the Bateleur takes off again
Meal finished, the Bateleur takes off again
DeWetsWild 
Simply stunning bird Dries.
It really is, Tracy. Not many eagles that are this colourful.
Dries, the feathers look like they might have once been used in traditional headdresses. Not that i would know. Perhaps I watch too many docos!
great capture with it taking off and soaring away! for some reason i’ve lost my appetite! 🙂
I have to agree – hands full of feathers would put me off eating poultry too!
Such an interesting series of photos showing the Bateleur tucking into the spurfowl. The flight photos are remarkable, showing the strength in the legs and the power of the wings with the fascinatingly long feathers at the wing tips. The pics also show just how short the tail of a Bateleur really is!
Being allowed so close to this one was a rare privilege, Carol.
I always learn something new from your nature posts, Dries. What a spectacular bird! Your images show his strength, size and markings so well. That poor Natal Spurfowl (had to look at your link) but that’s the way of the natural world.
Thank you very much for the kind words, Jane. We’re grateful to know that we can convey a bit of our wonder at South Africa’s wild places to every one that visits here.
What a powerful and majestic bird, de Wets. Your photos are incredible, and the flight shots are especially superb!!
You are too kind, Carol. Thank you.
The contrasting feathers and brightly-colored bill really make them stand out. Gorgeous birds!
Not many eagles can compete with the Bateleur for colourfulness!
What an amazing bird! So fierce and yet so majestic. Wow!
“Amazing” is right, Lori. Bateleurs are very special eagles and we’re very lucky to have had a chance to see this one feed so up close.
Dat ‘n mens (ag, ek bedoel ‘n voel) nou ‘n maaltyd so in die middel van die pad kan sit en geniet! Pragtige foto’s … veral daardie ene waar hy wegvlieg met sy vol maag!
Baie dankie, Corna. Regte tyd op die regte plek ne.
Another very privileged view, Dries. These birds are magnificent.
Thank you very much, Anne. You just never know what the Kruger will dish up for you on any given day.
Dis ‘n ongelooflike ervaring om die Bateleur van so naby te aanskou! Jare gelede het een reg agter ons motor geland en ek was so in vervoering dat ek nie’ n foto geneem het nie😜🙄
Ek kan jou nie daarvoor kwalik neem nie, Aletta. Hulle is manjifieke voels.
Dit is waar!
Big birds have a ferocious appetite. Great shots, D. 🙂
Thank you very much, H.J.
Mooi wegvlieg foto. Dis baie interessant dat hy huid en haar opeet.
Baie dankie, Ineke. Ja-Nee, niks word vermors nie.