18th century illustration of a bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), a medium-sized eagle in the family Accipitridae. Its closest relatives are the snake eagles. It is the only member of the genus Terathopius and may be the origin of the Zimbabwe Bird, the national emblem of Zimbabwe. It is endemic to Africa and small parts of Arabia. Bateleur is French for street performer or fool. Bird of prey from Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d'Afrique (Natural History of Birds of Africa) by Franeois Le Vaillant (1753-1824), published in Paris, France in 1799.