Tawny Eagle

Adults range from pale tawny-brown to dark brown, often with a paler throat or underparts, and dark wingtips. Juveniles are typically paler with a distinctive pale buffish wing bar across the upper and under wings.

Uniform tawny-brown body, relatively rounded head with a weak crest sometimes visible, and lack of extensive white barring on adult wings.

Length: 60-72 cm, Wingspan: 159-190 cm, Weight: 1.6-2.5 kg.

Generally quiet, but gives a barking or crow-like call 'kak-kak-kak' especially around the nest.

Opportunistic carnivore and scavenger; feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and frequently robs other predators or feeds on carrion.

Open habitats, including tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, semi-deserts, and arid steppes.

Mostly resident, though some northern populations migrate south for the winter.

Builds a large stick nest in a tree or on a cliff ledge. Usually lays 1 to 3 eggs, incubated primarily by the female.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), which is slightly larger with a gape line extending behind the eye, and greater amount of white barring in juveniles.

Acts as an apex predator and scavenger, helping to control rodent and small mammal populations while clearing carrion from the ecosystem.

Least Concern (IUCN), though populations are facing local declines due to poisoning and habitat loss.

Look for them perched on prominent vantage points in open savannas and semi-deserts. They are relatively approachable compared to other eagles.

Tawny eagles are known to engage in kleptoparasitism, frequently stealing prey from other birds of prey and even mammals like jackals.