Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

The western banded snake eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) is a grey-brown African raptor with a short tail and a large head. Juveniles have paler and browner upper parts than adults, with white-edged feathers. The eagle's head, neck and breast are dark-streaked. The underparts are white with pale brown streaks, mainly on belly and thighs. Subadults may be all dark grey-brown without any streak on underparts. The eyes, ears, and legs are yellow. They have crested chests. Western banded snake eagles mainly hunt snakes, but also other small vertebrates, ambushing from a perch. They drop from the perch to trunk, foliage or ground. They are solitary birds, and very secretive. Due to their sedentary lifestyle, they are often detected only by their calls. The western banded snake eagle sometimes rises to soar, while it calls above the canon. They utter a loud, high-pitched 'kok-kok-kok-kok-kok'.
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community of curious everyday people connecting with the natural world
Birda logo
Download Birda for free and join the community

Western Banded Snake Eagles on Birda

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🐧
Peter Cheetham
Saturday 25 Feb 2023 - 2:05pm
The Gambia
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Charlotte Cheetham
Saturday 25 Feb 2023 - 1:00pm
The Gambia
A map showing the sighting location
🐧
Andy Lamin
Monday 16 Jan 2023 - 1:11pm
The Gambia
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Jacqueline Coertzen
Tuesday 27 Dec 2022 - 8:49am
Botswana
Connect with nature,
Find your flock
Copyright © 2023 Chirp Birding Ltd. All rights reserved.