The Bateleur eagle is the most famous of the snake eagles. Its pitch black feathers with white under the wings, bright red face and legs and black beak are characteristic markings. The female Bateleur eagles are larger than males. This is the adult colour variation of this Eagle and most spectacular: I mentioned this in my Pine Cone eagle posted in May. Due to colour variations during growth, it has been given various names but most well known as the Bateleur from the French for Acrobatic tightrope walker due the way it flies, with a short tail and tilting motion from side to side.