Short-toed Snake Eagle

The Short-toed Snake Eagle, Circaetus gallicus, also known as the Short-toed Eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae. This raptor is distinguished by its predominantly white underside with greyish brown upper parts, and a pale, earthy brown chin, throat, and upper breast. The tail is marked with 3 or 4 bars. Notable features include an owl-like rounded head, strikingly yellow eyes, and lightly barred underwings. Adults range from 59 to 70 cm in length, with a wingspan of 162 to 195 cm, and weigh between 1.2 and 2.3 kg.

Identification Tips

In flight, the Short-toed Snake Eagle can be identified by its sizeable wingspan and characteristic white underside. The yellow eyes and rounded head are distinctive, as are the barring on the tail and underwings. When soaring, it holds its wings in a flat position, and it may hover like a kestrel when hunting.

Habitat

The Short-toed Snake Eagle 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.

Distribution

This Old World species is found across the Mediterranean basin, extending into Russia, the Middle East, parts of Western Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and some Indonesian islands. Northern populations migrate to sub-Saharan Africa during the winter months.

Behaviour

The Short-toed Snake Eagle is known for its hunting prowess, specializing in reptiles, primarily snakes and lizards. It may engage in ground battles with larger snakes. Occasionally, it preys on small mammals and, rarely, birds and large insects. This eagle is generally silent but may emit musical whistling notes, especially during the breeding season.

Song & Calls

While typically silent, the Short-toed Snake Eagle can produce a variety of musical whistling notes, particularly during the breeding season.

Breeding

During breeding, the Short-toed Snake Eagle lays a single egg and can live up to 17 years. It nests in trees and requires open habitats for successful foraging to provide for its young.

Similar Species

The Short-toed Snake Eagle may be confused with other snake eagles or large raptors, but its distinctive white underside, yellow eyes, and hovering behavior help differentiate it from similar species.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Short-toed Snake Eagle consists mostly of reptiles, with snakes being the primary food source. It hunts from the air, often soaring or hovering to spot prey before striking.

Conservation Status

The Short-toed Snake Eagle is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its numbers have declined in Europe due to changes in agriculture and land use, necessitating protection to prevent further decreases in population. In the middle and far eastern parts of its range, the species is not yet threatened.