Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax Scientific name definitions

60–75 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); 1600–3100 g (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); wingspan 159–183 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Mid-sized to large eagle, with longish neck, but relatively short wings and slightly rounded to almost square-ended tail (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Smaller, paler and with shallower gape than A. nipalensis. Polymorphic (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and individually variable in intensity of colour and extent of markings. Iris yellow amber. Female larger (by up to 15% (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ) and usually darker and more heavily marked than male. Juvenile more plainly coloured, especially ventrally, and plumage fades to blond; often rather redder. Races differ on size, and also on markings and extent of rufous coloration, but considerable individual variation and extensive overlap; vindhiana smaller, generally tends to be darker, lacks tawny, and sometimes, perhaps always, has brown iris; <em>belisarius</em> shares most plumage types with nominate race (notably very pale immature), but tends not to appear so scruffy.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open woodland, wooded savannah, semi-desert (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and arid steppe; only absent from forest and true desert. Often found near villages and cultivation in India, where it visits rubbish dumps and slaughterhouses (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). In Nepal, virtually restricted to terai. Recorded from sea level to 3000 m, but principally found in lowlands (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Resident in most areas but perhaps some seasonal movement into more arid areas in SW and NE Africa during the rainy season; also some birds perform seasonal N–S movements in W Africa (moving S in Oct–Nov and N in Apr (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ). Often mixes with flocks of migrant A. nipalensis. Rare vagrant in W of range, where it has has wandered N to Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Egypt, Israel (five records, some race belisarius, mostly in winter, once Aug) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 4 Harrison, I. (2015). From the rarities committees. Sandgrouse 37(2):203–210. Close ), Iran and Oman (unclear if race belisarius or vindhiana involved) (5 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Frequently listed in handbooks and checklists as having occurred as a vagrant in SE Asia, but historical records from Myanmar have proven to be erroneous, a specimen from Thailand has recently been re-identified as a juvenile A. fasciata, and two records from Tonkin (Vietnam) are equally unacceptable (a specimen also pertains to A. fasciata and a sight record seems likely to have been misidentified); nevertheless, two recent sight records from Myanmar (in Jan 2000 and Oct 2005), while not confirmed, do suggest that the species might occasionally wander to this region (6 Duckworth, J.W., Inskipp, T.P., Pasquet, E., Rasmussen, P.C., Rice, N.H., Robson, C.R. and Russell, D.G.D (2008). A re-evaluation of the status of Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax in South-East Asia. Forktail. 24: 127–129. Close ).

Mammals (to size of hares and dikdiks) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), birds (including gamebirds such as francolins, guineafowl and bustards, as well as hornbills) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 7 Runo, M. (2000). Tawny Eagle feeding on Red-billed Hornbill. Honeyguide. 46(1): 24. Close ) and lizards form bulk of catholic diet. May also take carrion (to size of elephants (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ) with vultures, Milvus migrans (5 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ) and A. nipalensis (8 Grimshaw, J. M. (1995). Birds of prey and owls of the western and northern slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Scopus 19(1): 27–37. Close ), insects (many termites , especially in non-breeding season (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ), amphibia and fish when available. Remains of domestic chickens found in nests (5 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Dives on prey (as large as flamingos (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ) from a perch or stoops while soaring high overhead, but may also walk about collecting food on the ground (including at rubbish dumps (5 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ) and slaughterhouses (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ). Observed predating Stresemann’s Bushcrow (Zavattariornis stresemanni) nest (9 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Regularly and boldly steals from other birds such as storks, other raptors and ground hornbills (Bucorvus), and also reported apparently following hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus) presumably to scavenge prey (10 Lewis, A. D. (1990). Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax following a foraging pack of Hunting Dogs Lycaon pictus. Scopus 14(1):19–20. Close ).

A rather hollow barking “kau-kau” or similar is most typical; also higher-pitched “ki-ark” given by male in display, when grating “kekeke...” also heard, and mewing “shreep-shreep” given by female at nest. Although not especially vocal is considered to be more so than Palearctic wintering in Africa (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Lays in dry season: Sept–Feb (11 Ash, J. S., and J. E. Miskell (1998). Birds of Somalia. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ) in NE Africa (but mainly from Nov in Ethiopia (9 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) ); Oct–Feb in W Africa; Mar–Oct in E Africa (peak May–Jul); Apr–Sept in S & C Africa; Nov–Mar in India. Suspected year-round in SW Arabia, but eggs only recorded Dec–Jan in this region (5 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Both sexes (mainly female) (12 Harrison, C. J. O., and P. Castell (2002). Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Second revised edition. HarperCollins, London, UK. Close ) build large (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) platform of sticks 90–130 cm (12 Harrison, C. J. O., and P. Castell (2002). Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Second revised edition. HarperCollins, London, UK. Close ) across and 30 cm deep (but even larger with extensive reuse) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), lined with grass, leaves and fur (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), on the crown of a thorny tree (usually Acacia) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) 5–30 m above ground (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ), the only African eagle to do so regularly; in relatively treeless areas, rarely nests on a power pylon (a phenomenon first noticed in 1970s) (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ), and, mainly in India, near villages (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Pairs usually spaced at intervals of 4–6 km (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ). Often nests in vicinity of watering point for game or stock, and frequently reuses same nest in subsequent seasons, although pairs may also build new nest just a few hundred metres away (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ). Usually two white eggs, unmarked or have faint brown or reddish-brown markings (12 Harrison, C. J. O., and P. Castell (2002). Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Second revised edition. HarperCollins, London, UK. Close ) (1–3), laid at three-day intervals (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ), size 69–71 mm × 54–55 mm (12 Harrison, C. J. O., and P. Castell (2002). Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Second revised edition. HarperCollins, London, UK. Close ); incubation 39–46 days (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), from initiation of clutch, mainly by female (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ); chicks initially have white to pale grey down (but second coat is denser and greyer) (12 Harrison, C. J. O., and P. Castell (2002). Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Second revised edition. HarperCollins, London, UK. Close ); eldest chick frequently kills younger sibling; fledging 76–85 days (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but young remain dependent for an additional c. 6 weeks (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Sometimes lays replacement clutch if first attempt fails early (13 Tarboton, W. (2001). A Guide to the Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa. Close ).

VULNERABLE. CITES II. Formerly common in many areas, including several large national parks, such as Comoé (Ivory Coast), Hwange (Zimbabwe) with an estimated 200 pairs, and Kruger (South Africa) with 292 pairs, at least in past. Once commonest eagle of Indian plains. Very uncommon in Nepal, where presumed to be resident. Status in Myanmar unknown: probably only a vagrant; possibly very rare resident, e.g. along R Irrawaddy. No confirmed records in Bangladesh (14 Rasmussen, P. C., and J. C. Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia: the Ripley Guide. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ). Adaptable, breeding equally successfully at mean inter-nest spacing of 3·5–59 km and densities of 1 pair/64–300 km². Scavenging habits make it susceptible to poisoning and has declined in many farming areas of S & E Africa. Also declining in W & NE Africa , and may now be largely absent from large areas of W Africa outside conservation units (15 Thiollay, J.-M. (2006). Severe decline of large birds in the Northern Sahel of West Africa: a long-term assessment. Bird Conservation International. 16(4): 353–365. Close ). Not known to be affected by pesticides.