Short-toed Snake-Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
Copied!
Circaetus gallicus
Copied!
Mass
~2 kg
Habitat
Woodlands and parks
Diet
Small vertebrates
How to recognize it
The Short-toed Snake-Eagle is a calm, wary raptor with a large head and an unhurried way of moving. In flight it often looks pale underneath, and it carries itself steadily without fuss.
It is usually quiet, so you are more likely to notice it in the air. It often soars over slopes and open country, and while searching for food it may hover in place like a kestrel.
It needs open ground for hunting and trees for nesting. It feeds mostly on snakes, with lizards and other small prey taken less often, and in the northern part of its range it leaves for winter.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The Short-toed Snake-Eagle is a calm, wary raptor with a large head and an unhurried way of moving. In flight it often looks pale underneath, and it carries itself steadily without fuss.
It is usually quiet, so you are more likely to notice it in the air. It often soars over slopes and open country, and while searching for food it may hover in place like a kestrel.
It needs open ground for hunting and trees for nesting. It feeds mostly on snakes, with lizards and other small prey taken less often, and in the northern part of its range it leaves for winter.
How to recognize it
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Circaetus gallicus Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Short-toed snake eagle Encyclopedia article