Tawny
Eagle - 'Keela'
Aquila rapax
The
Tawny Eagle is a large bird of prey, about 62–72 cm in length
and has a wingspan of 165–185 cm and it weighs 1.6–2.4 kg. Like
all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. It was once
considered to be closely related to the migratory Steppe Eagle,
Aquila nipalensis, and the two forms have previously been treated
as conspecific. They were split based on pronounced differences
in morphology and anatomy; molecular analysis indicates that
these birds are not even each other's closest relatives.
It
breeds in most of Africa both north and south of the Sahara
Desert and across tropical southwestern 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.
The call of the Tawny Eagle is a crow-like barking, but it is
rather a silent bird except in display.
The tawny eagle is most frequently seen soaring high in the
air or perched at the top of a tree, scanning the ground for
prey. A formidable hunter, the tawny eagle will tackle mammals
as large as hares, as well as sizeable birds and lizards, which
it catches by making a rapid dive from its perch or during flight,
seizing the animal in its powerful talons. When available, this
species will also exploit a variety of other food sources such
as carrion, insects, amphibians and fish, and frequently steals
food from other birds, such as storks, raptors and ground-hornbills.
The
tawny eagle’s breeding season varies according to location,
but most commonly occurs in the dry season. Courtship consists
of aerial displays, during which this normally silent species
makes a series of noisy croaks and grunts. After mating, a large,
flat nest is constructed from sticks lined with grass and leaves,
usually at the top of a thorny tree or very occasionally on
a power pylon. A clutch of two eggs is laid, which hatch after
around 39 to 44 days. During the early stages of the 77 to 84
day fledging period, while the chicks are still small, the eldest
chick may kill the younger sibling. A single nest may be used
repeatedly for many years, so long as the crown of the tree
remains unaltered. Tawny eagles have a relatively long lifespan,
reaching up to 16 years in the wild.
