Circaetus, the snake eagle, is a genus of medium-sized eagles in the bird of prey family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as buzzards and harriers.
Distribution / Range
These are mainly resident African species, but the migratory Short-toed Eagle breeds from the Mediterranean basin into Russia, the Middle East, and India, and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and east to Indonesia.
Snake eagles are found in open habitats like cultivated plains and arid savannah, but require trees in which to build a stick nest. The single egg is incubated mainly or entirely by the female.
Description
Circaetus eagles have rounded heads and broad wings.
Diet / Feeding
They prey on reptiles, mainly snakes, but also take lizards and occasionally small mammals.
Species in taxonomic order
- Short-toed Eagle Information, Circaetus gallicus / Short-toed Eagle Photo Gallery
- Black-chested Snake-eagle, Circaetus pectoralis – sometimes included in C. gallicus
- Beaudouin’s Snake-eagle, Circaetus beaudouini – sometimes included in C. gallicus
- Brown Snake-eagle, Circaetus cinereus
- Southern Banded Snake-eagle or Fasciated Snake-eagle, Circaetus fasciolatus
- Banded Snake-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
