Bateleur Eagle/ Conifer/Pine Eagle Terathopius ecaudatus

The Bateleur Eagle is native to sub-Saharan Africa. It has a hairless red face, similar to some vultures, and a yellow beak with a black tip. Its Latin name means without a tail. Male and female have similar plumage except that the male (above) has black secondary flight feathers on the wing and the female has grey.

Both have a brown nape on their otherwise black and grey plumage.

The name "Bateleur" comes from the French for a tightrope walker since the eagle tilts and balances in flight; it could also be translated as acrobat and refer to the aerial acrobatics of this colourful snake eagle. The pictures above demonstrate the derivation of the alternative names of "Conifer" and "Pine" Eagle due to the resemblance to the pine cone, especially of the juvenile (below) which has dark brown feathers.

The Pine Cone - a juvenile Bateleur Eagle with yellow-green facial skin - takes some seven years to reach adulthood.