Tawny eagle on the ground. The Tawny eagle (Aquila rapax rapax) is found throughout most of Africa, south of Morocco, inhabiting mountains and wooded savanna. It is a large bird, growing to 70 centimetres in length. It feeds on small to mid- sized mammals, birds, insects and carrion. It will also steal live prey from other predators. It hunts on the ground well as on the wing, an unusual trait in eagles. Photographed in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.