A photo of a Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Short-toed Snake Eagle

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

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, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. These are relatively large snake eagles. They can be recognised in the field by their predominantly white underside, the upper parts being greyish brown. The chin, throat and upper breast are a pale, earthy brown. The tail has 3 or 4 bars. Additional indications are an owl-like rounded head, brightly yellow eyes and lightly barred under wing. The short-toed snake eagle spends more time on the wing than do most members of its genus. It favours soaring over hill slopes and hilltops on up draughts, and it does much of its hunting from this position at heights of up to 500 m (1,600 ft). When quartering open country it frequently hovers like a kestrel. When it soars it does so on flattish wings.
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Short-toed Snake Eagles on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🕊
Jules T w
Monday 20 Mar 2023 - 11:33am
Spain
A map showing the sighting location
🕊
Jules T w
Sunday 19 Mar 2023 - 12:07pm
Spain
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Lucas Corneliussen
Friday 06 Jan 2023 - 7:41am
Thailand
A map showing the sighting location
🦩
Simon Tonkin
Thursday 24 Nov 2022 - 3:00pm
Spain
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