Striking Appearance An
adult Bateleur is an unmistakable bird. The jet black plumage, highlighted with
buff-coloured wings and a chestnut-coloured back and tail, is set off by the
striking red feet and face, and yellow bill. The juvenile and immature birds
are a uniform brown colour, with greenish face and pale pink feet. Its broad
head and unfeathered legs, indicate the Bateleur's close relationship to the
snake eagles. In flight the bird is distinctive with its virtually non-existent
tail and tapering wings. Unusual among birds of prey, the adult males and
females can be told apart by their plumage: the female shows an ash-grey wing
when perched and white secondary feathers, with black tips, when in flight. The
male has black secondaries, obvious whether perched or flying.
Origins The first Bateleur known to
science was found and shot by Francois Le Vaillant near George, in the southern
Cape in 1800. Bateleur is a French word - meaning tumbler or acrobat. Its
scientific name Terathopius ecaudatus is derived from Greek and, loosely
translated, means "marvellous face without a tail". Most apt!
Shrinking Habitat The Bateleur occurs
throughout the savanna and open woodland regions of Africa south of the Sahara.
In South Africa, the species once graced the skies of the Transkei, the Eastern
Cape, the Karoo and the south Western Cape.
Today the Bateleur has been eliminated from an
estimated 80% of its former range and is classified as 'vulnerable' in the Red
Data Book - Birds. This may come as a surprise to people who visit the lowveld
wildlife reserves, where the Bateleur probably occurs at maximum density in an
ideal habitat. Outside of protected areas, the Bateleur is extremely vulnerable
to poison bait. The birds have been eradicated from virtually all South African
farmland due to indiscriminate attempts to control jackal by irresponsible
landowners.
Opportunistic Feeder Because of its
low flying habits, the Bateleur is often more conspicuous than other large
eagles which fly at higher altitudes. Bateleurs are highly opportunistic
feeders, taking carrion from small and large carcasses, pirating prey from
other raptors or storks and feeding from road kills. Catching live prey such as
small mammals, reptiles and birds, up to the size of a korhaan, feature among
their feeding habits. One researcher working in the Kruger Park estimated that
approximately one third of their food was live prey - with Lilac-breasted
Rollers a particular favourite!
Mating and Nest Building Bateleurs
pair for life. The couple perform dramatic aerial acrobatics prior to breeding
which is generally in late summer. A single egg is laid in a bulky stick nest,
always situated within a main fork and below the canopy of a large tree. In
contrast to other large eagle species, in which the female does most or all of
the incubation, both Bateleur parents share this task.
The nest is lined with fresh green leaves to
provide a soft carpet for the hatchling. The youngster develops rapidly, being
fed regular meals by both parents.
At the age of about six weeks the juvenile is
flapping at the edge of the nest but it will be between four and six months
before it leaves its parents. Remarkably, it will be seven years before the
youngster attains the colourful plumage of adulthood and is able to find a
mate.
Birds
