Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 145, January 2017, pp. 1-22. | Page 3

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The Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus Daudin, 1800) is a mediumsized eagle in the family Accipitridae. Its closest relatives are the snake eagles. It is
the only member of the genus Terathopius and may be the origin of the
"Zimbabwe Bird", national emblem of Zimbabwe. It is endemic to Africa and
small parts of Arabia. "Bateleur" is French for "Street Performer" (Wikipedia).

A Bateleur Eagle (Terathopius ecuadatus) in the Jerusalem (Judean) Plains, Palestine. Photo by
Jonathan Meyrav … 15.06.2015.
https://www.facebook.com/637933306242855/photos/pcb.899987170037466/899986720037511/
?type=1&theater

Description and Behaviour
The average adult is 55 to 70 cm (22 to 28 in) long with a 186 cm (6 feet 1 in)
wingspan. The wing chord averages approximately 51 cm (20 in). Adult weight
is typically 2 to 2.6 kg (4 lb 7 oz to 5 lb 12 oz) (Wikipedia).
The Bateleur is a colourful species with a very short tail (ecaudatus is Latin for
tailless) which, together with its white underwing coverts, makes it unmistakable
in flight. The tail is so small the bird's legs protrude slightly beyond the tail
during flight. The Bateleur is sexually dimorphic; both adults have black
plumage, a chestnut mantle and tail, grey shoulders, tawny wing coverts, and
red facial skin, bill and legs. The female additionally has tawny secondary wing
feathers. Less commonly, the mantle may be white. Immature birds are brown
with white dappling and have greenish facial skin. It takes them seven or eight
years to reach full maturity (Wikipedia).
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 145 – January 2017