Animals of Africa - Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) - Thought to be a race of the Steppe Eagle. Their physiology and genetic fingerprint are almost indistinguishable. Found in Africa as far south as the equator, the Tawny is also found in India and Burma, under the species Aquila rapax vindhiana. In the African race, the numbers of these eagles are reducing at an alarming rate, although the cause of this is unknown. The Tawny is non-migratory and prefers the habitat of the mountains and wooded savanna. Typical prey species include ground squirrels, with some Tawny Eagles taking nothing else, through to leverets, rodents, birds, snakes, lizards and insects. Carrion is also taken. The eagle either hunts from a low perch relying on rapid, short chases and they have been seen to hunt on foot.