Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tawny Eagle
Aquila rapax
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 2.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Aquila
- Species rapax
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.2 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tawny Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Tawny Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread, also India.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.2 kg, with a wing length of about 50.7 cm and a tail of around 24.2 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 17.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tawny Eagle?
The Tawny Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 2.2 kg.
Where does the Tawny Eagle live?
The Tawny Eagle is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, also India, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tawny Eagle belong to?
The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Tawny Eagle eat?
The Tawny Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Tawny Eagle migrate?
The Tawny Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Tawny Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Tawny Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Tawny Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tawny Eagle's range?
The Tawny Eagle has a mapped global range of about 17.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.