Western Banded Snake Eagle

The Western Banded Snake Eagle, Circaetus cinerascens, presents a striking figure with its grey-brown plumage, a short tail, and a notably large head. This raptor's plumage undergoes a transformation from juvenile to adult, with the younger birds displaying paler and browner upper parts adorned with white-edged feathers. The adult's head, neck, and breast are marked with dark streaks, while the underparts remain white, accented with pale brown streaks, primarily on the belly and thighs. In contrast, subadults may exhibit a uniform dark grey-brown plumage devoid of streaks on the underparts. The species is characterized by yellow eyes, ears, and legs, and a crested chest that adds to its distinguished appearance.

Identification Tips

To identify the Western Banded Snake Eagle, look for the dark streaking on the head, neck, and breast, as well as the white underparts with pale brown streaks. The yellow eyes, ears, and legs are also distinctive features. Juveniles can be recognized by their paler brown upper parts with white-edged feathers. Subadults may appear as a uniform dark grey-brown.

Habitat

These eagles favor woodlands, particularly those flanking rivers, while they tend to avoid dense forests.

Distribution

The Western Banded Snake Eagle is native to Africa, with its range extending from Senegal and Gambia in the west, across to Ethiopia, and then southward to southern Angola and Zimbabwe. Their presence is mostly confined to the west of the Rift Valley, and they are notably absent from the western lowland equatorial forests.

Behaviour

A solitary and secretive bird, the Western Banded Snake Eagle primarily preys on snakes and other small vertebrates, employing an ambush strategy from a perch. They are known to drop onto their prey, whether it be on a trunk, foliage, or the ground. Their sedentary nature often means they are detected only by their distinctive calls. Occasionally, they may rise to soar and call above the canopy, emitting a loud, high-pitched 'kok-kok-kok-kok-kok'.

Song & Calls

The call of the Western Banded Snake Eagle is a loud and high-pitched 'kok-kok-kok-kok-kok', often heard when the bird is soaring.

Breeding

Breeding Western Banded Snake Eagles construct a new nest each year, hidden among creepers and foliage. The nest is a small structure made of sticks and is well-concealed within the vegetation. The female lays a single egg, and incubation, which is primarily the female's responsibility, lasts between 35 and 55 days. The young eaglets fledge after 10 to 15 weeks.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Western Banded Snake Eagle consists mainly of reptiles and amphibians, which they capture on the ground or in trees.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Western Banded Snake Eagle as Least Concern. However, they are an uncommon species with a patchy distribution and are vulnerable to the loss of their riverine habitat.