Tawny Eagle

Aquila rapax

The Tawny Eagle is a large bird of prey. 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.
Tawny Eagle with cattle egret prey This eagle along with its mate had been hunting this egret for several minutes. The egret would hide under our car when the eagles approached. We finally got far enough away and this eagle was able to capture the egret. Aquila rapax,Geotagged,Kenya,Summer,Tawny Eagle

Appearance

This is a large eagle although it is one of the smaller species in the "Aquila" genus. It is 60–75 cm in length and has a wingspan of 159–190 cm. Weight can range from 1.6 to 3 kg. It has tawny upperparts and blackish flight feathers and tail. The lower back is very pale. This species is smaller and paler than the 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 - Drink of Life An adult Tawny Eagle takes a drink of water, as photographed in the wilds of Africa. 

Eagles, according to my experience, come during lunch hour, mid day.  Although light is horrible, this is the most common time of day.  Be patient.  And hide.  With extreme eyesight, they will spot you immediately and fly away.  Normally one can see their shadows on the ground as they circle a watering hole before / during their final approach.  Hide and remain motion-less.  As soon as they land, they are still very wary ... keep on hiding.  But when they begin drinking water, slowly, ever so slowly, get into position.   Aquila rapax,Namibia,Tawny Eagle,avian,beak,beautiful,bird,drink,droplet,fantastic,free,gorgeous,icon,magnificent,majestic,quench,splendor,striking,water,wild

Behavior

The Tawny Eagle's diet is largely fresh carrion of all kinds, but it will kill small 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.
Tawny Eagle || Maasai Mara || Aug 2017
https://www.facebook.com/MohammedSalmanPics/ Aquila rapax,Tawny Eagle

Habitat

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, plains.

References:

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderAccipitriformes
FamilyAccipitridae
GenusAquila
SpeciesA. rapax