Tawny Eagle

The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a large bird of prey. It is about 62-72 cm in length and has a wingspan of 165-185cm. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. It is closely related to the migratory Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis, and the two forms are often considered conspecific.

It breeds in most of Africa both north and south of the Sahara Desert and across tropical southernwestern Asia to India. It is a resident breeder which lays 1-3 eggs in a stick nest in a tree, crag or on the ground.

Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah.

This is a large eagle with tawny upperparts and blackish flight feathers and tail. The lower back is very pale. This species is smaller and paler than Steppe Eagle, although it does not share that species' pale throat.

Immature birds are less contrasted than adults, but both show a range of variation in plumage colour.

Tawny Eagle's diet is largely fresh carrion of all kinds, but it will kill 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 call of the Tawny Eagle is a crow-like barking, but it is rather a silent bird except in display.