UGANDA BIRDING SAFARI GUIDE
The Bateleur
If you are Planning a Uganda Birding Safari. Then plan to enjoy the Bateleur, one of most striking raptors in Uganda.
In this section of the Uganda Birding Safari Guide we share with you information about Bateleurs that can help you enjoy your Bird watching tour to Africa.
You will find information about:
- Where to find the Bateleur in Uganda
- How to Identify them and
- Some interesting facts about these Uganda Birds
Where to find the Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)
The Bateleur is the most striking large raptor in Uganda.
Its a large jet black and grey short-tailed eagle with bare red face and beak.
This bird is common in savanna reserves and is often seen soaring with a tilting motion.
The Bateleur derived its name from the tilting motion reminiscent of the tightrope walkers.
Characteristics of the Bateleur
The adult male Bateleur is stocky headed largely black with extensive bright red facial skin, grey wing coverts and a very short chestnut tail which is usually hidden by wings at rest.
The male Bateleur legs are bright red-orange and the back is chestnut in most of them.
Some males have a creamy-white or light brown back.
The females have an additional grey band across the secondaries.
In flight will be able to see the females' white under wings and in the males you will a broader trailing edge.
These birds can fly all day and they have loud explosive vocals yaaaow yaaaow or high pitched wee weeye weeye weeye especially if they are looking for prey.
In their Habitat
You can find Bateleurs in singles or in pairs.
You will hardly find these birds in small groups.
Bateleurs are widespread and common in a variety of open grassland and woodland.
They feed on carrion, insects, monitor lizards.
You will commonly see individual birds over wide areas seeking out carcasses and often times a Bateleur patrols an area if its on a hunting spree.
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