Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a uncommon kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 45 countries, weighing about 2.2 kg. The tawny eagle is a large bird of prey.
About the Tawny Eagle
The tawny eagle is a large bird of prey. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Its heavily feathered legs mark it as a member of the subfamily Aquilinae, also known as booted eagles. Tawny eagles have an extensive but discontinuous breeding range that constitutes much of the African continent as well as the Indian subcontinent, with rare residency in the southern Middle East. Throughout its range, it favours open dry habitats such as semideserts, deserts steppes, or savanna plains. Despite its preference for arid areas, the species seldom occurs in areas where trees are entirely absent. It is a resident breeder which lays one to three eggs in a stick nest most commonly in…
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How to identify it
The tawny eagle is considered to appear "inelegant, scruffy-looking" but has a fairly characteristic aquiline silhouette. The species has a fairly long neck and long deep bill with a gape line level with the eye, moderately long wings with fairly pronounced "fingers" and a slightly rounded to almost square-ended and shortish tail, which can be more reminiscent of the tail of a vulture than that of other eagles. The feathering on the legs is extensive and can appear almost baggy-looking. Voice: Tawny eagles are generally silent in most of their range. However, unlike steppe eagles, which are almost always silent away from their breeding grounds, they are said to occasionally vocalize in any season. They are also more vocal when not breeding than the spotted eagles. The usual call is a harsh, hollow-sounding, loud bark, variously transcribed as kowk-kowk, kau-kau, kiok-kiok or ki-ark.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Tawny Eagle can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Tawny Eagle?
- The tawny eagle is considered to appear "inelegant, scruffy-looking" but has a fairly characteristic aquiline silhouette. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Tawny Eagle?
- The Tawny Eagle is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.2 kg.
- Where can you see a Tawny Eagle?
- The Tawny Eagle occurs in 45 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, India and Namibia.
- What birds look similar to a Tawny Eagle?
- The Tawny Eagle is most easily confused with the Bonelli's Eagle, the Steppe Eagle and the Eastern Imperial Eagle.
- Is the Tawny Eagle endangered?
- The Tawny Eagle is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Tawny Eagle for real
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