Short-toed Snake Eagle

Overview

The short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is an Old World species found throughout the Mediterranean basin, parts of Western Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and certain Indonesian islands.

Identification

• Adults are 59 to 70 cm long with a wingspan of 162 to 195 cm.
• Recognisable by a predominantly white underside, greyish brown upper parts, and a pale, earthy brown chin, throat, and upper breast.
• Features an owl-like rounded head, brightly yellow eyes, a tail with 3 or 4 bars, and lightly barred under wings.
• Generally very silent, but occasionally emits a variety of musical whistling notes.

Habitat

Inhabits open cultivated plains, arid stony deciduous scrub areas, foothills, and semi-desert regions. It requires trees for nesting and open habitats such as cultivations and grasslands for foraging. Populations on the northern edge of the Mediterranean migrate to sub-Saharan Africa, while those in the Middle and Far East are resident.

Diet

Preys mostly on reptiles, mainly snakes, and occasionally on lizards, small mammals up to the size of a rabbit, and rarely birds or large insects. It hunts from soaring positions at heights up to 500 m and may become entangled in battles with larger snakes on the ground. In captivity, it has been observed to eat mice and frogs.

Did you know?

The specific epithet gallicus is Latin for 'Gaul', referring to France. Historical records from Buffon note that the bird was well known by French farmers for raiding poultry.