Eagle - Bateleur
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Mature Bateleur close-up showing the beautiful color patterns of the back. [Hwange NP, Zimbabwe].
Close-up of a mature, adult Bateleur's face. [Hwange NP, Zimbabwe].
A young adult Bateleur. The feathers of the wings are not yet black Note the characteristic red feet. [Moremi NP, Botswana].
1st image: A Bateleur mother and her juvenile offspring preening one another. A bateleur is about 7 years old before it develops the adult coloration. The next 2 images are of the same two birds. [Chobe NP (Savuti), Botswana].
2nd image: A mother Bateleur being preened by her juvenile offspring. Please refer to the description in the previous image for more information. [Chobe NP (Savuti), Botswana].
3rd image: The mother Bateleur watches her offspring preen itself. [Savuti, Chobe NP, Botswana].
1st image: A pair of young adult Bateleurs in the swampy grass along the Khwai R. I deliberately show 3 images of the same pair so that the viewer can see this species' beautiful coloration. Unfortunately, because of the high grass, the viewer cannot see their red legs. [Khwai, Moremi NP, Botswana].
2nd image: the same adult Bateleur pair, both looking up at the sky. The viewer can just barely see a hint of the redlegs on the indivdual on the R. Please refer to the 1st Image's caption. {Khwai River, Botswana].
3rd image: The same Bateleur Pair. the drop of water on the beak of the bird behind is the result of its having been probing the muck for a fish or lizard. A Bateleur will take birds and small animals. These are true eagles, but only 'Bateleur' is used (from the French word meaning 'tumbling'). The birds do tumbles in the air during their mating ritual. Please see the captions of the previous 2 images. [Khwai, Moremi NP, Botswana]
This and the next three images are of a Juvenile Bateleur of about 1-1/2 years (1st image). They are unusual close-up shots of the same immature Bateleur The recognition of the species at this age depends upon its chocolate-brown coloration, head shape, and greenish-gray face and beak. It will not attain its adult plummage until it's 7-8 years of age. [Khwai, Moremi NP, Botswana].
The 2nd image provides good details of the underwing and the lateral aspect of the face, plummage and beak. Note that the gape (where the upper and lower beaks meet) is even with the back margin of the eye; thus, creating a large mouth for this young bird. (Please see caption of 1st image. [Khwai, Botswana].
Bateleur-Juvenile-3rd (dbl) image
The 3rd image (dbl image) of this juvenile Bateleur also well illustrates the face, beak, and primary & secondary plummage. (please see captions of previous 2 images). {Khwai, Moremi NP, Botswana}.
A beautiful and rare depiction of this young (1-1/2 yr. old) Bateleur's dorsal aspect (4th image). We estimated the wing-span to be about 4 feet. Note the short tail, characteristic of the species, even in adulthood. At this age, the bird does it's own hunting. (Please see captions of previous 3 images). [Khwai, Moremi NP, Botswana].
A mature Bateleur Eagle calling:The name comes from the french, meaning 'to tumble' which this species does in the air while courting. Note the characteristic red feet, along with the red beak. [Botswana]
The same Bateleur as the previous, but sitting quietly on a limb. [Botswana].
This Bateleur Eagle is an immature female.
