From Opus

Photo by juninho
Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya

Aquila rapax

[edit] Identification

62-72cm
Tawny upperparts and blackish flight feathers and tail. The lower back is very pale.

[edit] Distribution

Africa. Widespread and common in sub-Saharan Africa breeding from southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya south to eastern South Africa. Also breeds within the Western Palearctic in Morocco and a small area of northern Algeria. Formerly also bred in Tunisia.

Mainly resident but has occurred further north in Morocco and as a vagrant elsewhere in North Africa east to Egypt and exceptionally also recorded in Israel. In Europe recorded in Spain and Sardinia.

Photo by Mybs
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa.

[edit] Taxonomy

Considered conspecific with Steppe Eagle A. nipalensis by some authors.

Two races recognised: cirtensis in North Africa and the nominate in remainder of range.

[edit] Habitat

Semi-arid Acacia savanna, and also semi-desert, and steppes.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It lays 1–3 eggs in a stick nest in a small trees, crags, rocks and ruins, or on the ground.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes largely fresh carrion; it will kill small mammals up to the size of a rabbit, reptiles and birds up to the size of guineafowl. It will also steal food from other raptors.

[edit] References

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages