The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a large bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae. It was once considered to be closely related to the migratory steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis. 

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 one to three eggs in a stick nest in a tree or crag or on the ground. 

Throughout its range, it favours open dry habitats such as desert, semi desert, steppes, or savannah plains. They tend to avoid dense forests as these may restrict their movement.

This is a large eagle, although it is one of the smaller species in the genus Aquila. It is 24–30 in in length and has a wingspan of 63–75 in. Weight can range from 3.5 to 6.6 lb. 

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, and it does not share that species' pale throat. 

Immature birds show less contrast than adults, but both show a range of variation in plumage colour. 

Like most Eagles, the Tawny Eagles are generalist carnivores and formidable hunters. Their diet relies mainly on fresh carrion of animals that have recently been killed. They also eat insects and kill small animals such as smaller birds, rabbits and small reptiles including lizards and snakes. It will even tackle mammals as large as Hares. The Eagle will make a rapid dive from its perch when the prey is spotted, and seize it in its sharp, powerful talons. Tawny Eagles do spend time near water where they can drink safely.

The call of the tawny eagle is a crow-like barking, but it is rather a silent bird except in display.

Tawny Eagles, like other Eagle species, are diurnal – active by day, sleeping at night. Tawny Eagles tend to occupy the same territory for many years, sometimes even decades, in pairs.

The Tawny Eagle is generally a silent bird but males will emit a crow-like barking or ‘kwok kwok’ noise when displaying to a female or when aggravated. Tawny Eagles are gregarious outside of the breeding season and flocks of 20 or more birds are commonly observed.

Tawny Eagles are strong fliers and can fly at 1,968 – 14,760 feet. They particularly fly only when air thermals can assist their soaring and usually perch on a tree or telegraph pole during the day scanning the ground for food.

When Tawny Eagles reach adult size, they probably do not have many predators, if any at all. Tawny Eagles are important members of the ecosystems in which they live.

They are monogamous and pair for life. Before mating occurs, the male Eagle performs undulating displays and then mutual soaring displays take place in the air. The pairs or the single male will perform high circling flying over the nesting site. Sometimes, the male performs ‘pot hooks’ which involves dives and swoops with little wing flapping. The female may turn over and present her claws in response to the male swooping over her. 

The life span of the Tawny Eagle is around 16 years. However, the oldest recorded Tawny Eagle living in the wild was 60 years.

The Tawny Eagle pictured below is a captive bird at the Bird of Prey Centre in Helmsley.