Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 145, January 2017, pp. 1-22. | Page 4

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The Bateleur is diurnal, and hunts over a territory of approximately 250 square
miles (650 km2) a day. Bateleurs are hunters and scavengers; birds such as
pigeons and sandgrouse are preferred prey items, although it may attack small
mammals and also takes carrion. The Bateleur is generally silent, but on
occasions it produces a variety of barks and screams. The bird spe nds a
considerable amount of time on the wing, particularly in low-altitude glides.
"Bateleur" is French for "Street Performer" which included performers such
as tight-rope walkers. This name implies the bird’s characteristic habit of rocking
its wings from side to side when gliding, as if catching its balance (Wikipedia).
The Bateleur breeds in December–March. It constructs a well-concealed nest
in trees, laying a single egg which is incubated by the female for 42 to 43 days,
with a further 90 to 125 days until fledging. Bateleurs pair for life, and will use
the same nest for a number of years. Unpaired birds, presumably from a
previous clutch, will sometimes help at the nest (Wikipedia).
Bateleur eagles are among a group of raptors that secrete a clear, salty fluid from
their nares whilst eating. According to Schmidt-Nielsen's (1964) hypothesis, this
is due to the general necessity for birds to use an extrarenal mechanism of salt
secretion to aid water reabsorption (Wikipedia).

Distribution and Habitat
The Bateleur eagle is a common to fairly common resident of the
open savanna country and woodland (thornveld) within Sub-Saharan Africa; it
also occurs in south-west Arabia. Total distribution size is estimated at
28,000,000 km2. The bird's range has diminished significantly in recent decades,
possibly due to poisoning (Wikipedia).

Nesting Area of the Bateleur Eagle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bateleur#/media/File:Gaukler_Terathopius_ecaudatus_world.png
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 145 – January 2017