Snake Eagles

Circaetus, the snake eagles, 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.

Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

Diet / Feeding

They prey on reptiles, mainly snakes, but also take lizards and occasionally small mammals.

Species in taxonomic order

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Gordon Ramel

Gordon is an ecologist with two degrees from Exeter University. He's also a teacher, a poet and the owner of 1,152 books. Oh - and he wrote this website.

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