The bateleur, also called the bateleur eagle, is a medium-sized raptor that lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. The juveniles are brown, but mature adults are known for their striking plumage and colorful faces.
Fun facts about the bateleur
A bateleur in flight. Image by David Barros Cardona, via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC).
The aerial acrobat
Bateleur is a French word meaning performer or acrobat. The bateleur gets its name from its highly acrobatic flight. Bateleurs spend hours in the sky searching for carrion to scavenge or live prey to hunt.
A bateleur anting. Image by Marc Henrion, via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC).
A day at the spa … with ants
The bateleur performs a cleaning behavior called anting. During anting, the bird lies near an ant colony and waits for the ants to crawl all over its body and feathers. When the bateleur moves, the ants release formic acid, which helps clean away debris and kills parasites.
Bateleurs with a nest. Image by Linda Loffler, via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC).
Family of three
The mating pair builds their nest out of sticks up high in a tree. There, the female lays only one egg. Because bateleurs have only one chick at a time and spend a long time parenting, these birds are especially vulnerable to habitat loss and disturbance.
Close up of a bateleur. Image by sowadart, via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC).
Seeing red!
Mature bateleurs have red skin on their face and feet. This skin acts a little like a mood ring, turning a brighter red when the bird is agitated or excited, and becoming paler when it is calm.
Educator tip: Create a classroom wall showcasing students’ drawings of birds of Africa, such as the bateleur, lilac-breasted roller, shoebill, and helmeted guinea fowl.
