# Bateleur (*Terathopius ecaudatus*) The Bateleur is a colorful bird with a short tail and long wings. It loves to soar high in the sky and can be seen gliding over savannas and grasslands. Its bright colors make it easy to spot! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Savannas ![Bateleur](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bateleur_%28Terathopius_ecaudatus%29_-_Flickr_-_Lip_Kee.jpg&width=800) Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bateleur_%28Terathopius_ecaudatus%29_-_Flickr_-_Lip_Kee.jpg) ## Appearance The Bateleur is a striking medium-sized eagle, easily recognized by its extremely short tail, vivid red face and legs, and predominantly black body. Its underwings are often white, creating a distinctive pattern against its dark plumage during flight. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Accipitridae - **Genus:** Terathopius ## Interesting facts - A Bateleur's bright red face can actually turn dull if it feels scared or stressed. - The Bateleur's name means "juggler" in French, describing its unique rocking flight! - These eagles often fly up to 1,600 feet high while scanning for their next meal! - They have such a short tail, it looks like it was accidentally chopped off! ## Special abilities - **Endless Soar:** Bateleur can glide for hours without flapping its wings because of their efficient aerodynamic design, helping them save energy while hunting. - **Far Sight:** Bateleur has incredibly keen eyesight that helps them spot tiny prey or carrion from high above the vast African savannas. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Bateleur can perform impressive aerial maneuvers, even with its short tail, because of its long wings, helping it snatch prey in flight. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-70 cm - **Wingspan:** 160-186 cm - **Weight:** 1.8-2.9 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1 - **Incubation:** 52-59 days ## Diet & Feeding These eagles mostly eat other animals, from small reptiles to birds and even carrion. - **Primary Foods:** Small mammals, Lizards, Snakes, Birds, Carrion, Insects - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Rock Hyrax](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rock-hyrax) (*Procavia capensis*) — Bateleurs often hunt rock hyraxes in rocky outcrops. - **Hunts:** Red-headed Rock Agama (*Agama agama*) — Bateleurs regularly prey on various lizards, including rock agamas. - **Eats:** [Plains Zebra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plains-zebra) (*Equus quagga*) — Bateleurs often scavenge on carcasses left by larger predators. - **Depends on:** Umbrella Thorn Acacia (*Acacia tortilis*) — Bateleurs build their large nests high in acacia trees for safety. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Scavenger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/scavenger): Scavengers consume dead organic matter, helping to decompose carcasses and other waste in the ecosystem. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bateleur? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bateleur? 55-70 cm ### What is Bateleur's wingspan? 160-186 cm ### How much does Bateleur weigh? 1.8-2.9 kg ### How long does Bateleur live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Bateleur move? 80 km/h ### What does Bateleur eat? These eagles mostly eat other animals, from small reptiles to birds and even carrion. ### Where is Bateleur usually found? Savannas ## Where to spot - [Weltvogelpark Walsrode](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/weltvogelpark-walsrode) — Niedersachsen, DE · Zoo - [Adlerwarte Berlebeck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/adlerwarte-berlebeck) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Bateleur: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bateleur)