A type of African eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) with distinctive short-tailed appearance, known for its acrobatic flying displays.
From French 'bateleur' meaning 'juggler' or 'acrobat,' referring to the bird's spectacular aerial maneuvers; ultimately from Old French 'batel' related to 'batteler' (to practice acrobatics).
The Bataleur eagle can fly upside down and performs death-defying aerial rolls—early European observers literally named it 'juggler' because they thought only a performer could fly that impossibly!
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