Quick Facts
Facts sourced from Wikidata (CC0).
Best Months to Spot
Most sightings recorded in Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov. Data from GBIF - a global database of verified wildlife observations by researchers and citizen scientists.
Conservation Status
Conservation hubFaces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The bateleur eagle faces significant threats from habitat loss due to agriculture and development, as well as poisoning from pesticides and retaliatory killing by farmers. While specific large-scale recovery programs are limited, conservation efforts focus on protecting its habitat and reducing human-wildlife conflict. Responsible safari tourism provides crucial funding for anti-poaching patrols and habitat management, directly contributing to the survival of this magnificent bird.
The bateleur, also known as the bateleur eagle, is a medium-sized eagle in the family Accipitridae. It is often considered a relative of the snake eagles and, like them, it is classified within the subfamily Circaetinae. It is the only member of the genus Terathopius and may be the origin of the "Zimbabwe Bird", the national emblem of Zimbabwe. Adult bateleurs are generally black in colour with a chestnut colour on the mantle as well as also on the rump and tail. Adults also have gray patches about the leading edges of the wings with bright red on their cere and their feet. Adults also show white greater coverts, contrasting with black remiges in males, gray patches on the underwing primaries and black wingtips. The juvenile bateleur is quite different, being largely drab brown with a bit of paler feather scaling. All bateleurs have extremely large heads for their size, rather small bills, large feet, relatively short legs, long, bow-like wings and uniquely short tails, which are much smaller still on adults compared to juvenile birds.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to Find
Top parks for Bateleur. Sightings recorded in 200 safari areas total.
Best Safari Destinations
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