Berkel en Rodenrijs Summer: Birds@work

Portraits of a Bateleur Eagle. The Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a medium-sized eagle in the bird family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as buzzards, kites and harriers. The Bateleur is a colourful species with a very short tail (ecaudatus is Latin for tailless), which makes it unmistakable in flight. The adult male is 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 in) long with a 175 cm (5.75 ft) wingspan. He has black plumage except for the chestnut mantle and tail, grey shoulders, and red facial skin, bill and legs.
The female is similar to the male except that she has grey rather than black secondary flight feathers. Immature birds are brown with white dappling and have greenish facial skin. It takes them seven or eight years to reach full maturity.
Photoworkshop at the residence of Birds @ Work in Berkel en Rodenrijs, the Netherlands. The workshop was given by photographer Roberto Bogers
Canon Eos 350D 75-300mm F10/F8/F5.6 1/250sec ISO 100