Zimbabawe | 1997 | 1 Cent | Bateleur

 


Bateleur


The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized, colourful African eagle in the family Accipitridae and the sole member of its genus. Adults measure 55–70 cm with a 186 cm wingspan, weighing 2–2.6 kg. Distinctive for its very short tail, white underwing coverts, and red facial skin, bill, and legs, it is sexually dimorphic, with females showing tawny secondary wing feathers. Immature birds are brown with white dappling. Bateleurs are diurnal hunters and scavengers, preying on birds, small mammals, and carrion, often gliding in characteristic rocking flight. They breed December–March, laying a single egg in tree nests incubated for 42–43 days, with fledging after 90–125 days. Pairs mate for life, sometimes aided by unpaired helpers, and secrete a saline fluid from their nares to manage salt balance.

 


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