Aloktewari (talk | contribs) (Image of Indian subspecies 'A. r. vindhiana'') |
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| − | [[Image:7035DSC02041.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|juninho|juninho}}<br /> | + | [[Image:7035DSC02041.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo by {{user|juninho|juninho}}<br />Maasai Mara National Park, [[Kenya]]]] |
;[[:Category:Aquila|Aquila]] rapax | ;[[:Category:Aquila|Aquila]] rapax | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
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====Diet==== | ====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. | 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. | ||
| − | [[Image:12347Tawny eagle flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Mybs|Mybs}}<br /> Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, [[South Africa]].]] | + | [[Image:12347Tawny eagle flight.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo by {{user|Mybs|Mybs}}<br /> Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, [[South Africa]].]] |
==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}# Sinclair et al. 2002. Birds of Southern Africa. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-09682-1 | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}# Sinclair et al. 2002. Birds of Southern Africa. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-09682-1 | ||
Revision as of 04:28, 17 February 2018
- Aquila rapax
Identification
62-72cm
Tawny upperparts and blackish flight feathers and tail. The lower back is very pale.
Tawny Eagle has nostrils on a diagonal that is almost vertical, and the gape goes back only to mid eye.
Similar species
Wahlberg's Eagle and Steppe Eagle
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. Locally also in India, Pakistan and southern Nepal.
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 Alok Tewari
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, India, December-2017
Taxonomy
Considered conspecific with Steppe Eagle A. nipalensis by some authors.
Three subspecies recognized[1]:
- A. r. cirtensis in North Africa
- A. r. rapax in Africa south of the Sahara
- A. r. vindhiana in Pakistan, India and Nepal
Vindhiana is sometimes included in Steppe Eagle or accepted as full species.
Habitat
Semi-arid Acacia savanna, and also semi-desert, and steppes.
Behaviour
Breeding
It lays 1–3 eggs in a stick nest in a small trees, crags, rocks and ruins, or on the ground.
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.
References
- Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
- Sinclair et al. 2002. Birds of Southern Africa. Princeton Field Guides, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-09682-1
- Birdforum thread discussing nostril characters
