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6

Short-toed Snake Eagle

(Circaetus gallicus)
Alternate name(s): "Short-toed Eagle"
German name(s): "Schlangenadler"

Size: 62-69 cm; wing span 1.6-1.8 m
Weight: 1.2-2.3 kg

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Short-toed Snake Eagle at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Short-toed Snake Eagle (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Frontal view of a Short-toed Snake Eagle in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Douro, Miranda do Douro, Braganca, Portugal, May 2018]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Short-toed Snake Eagle in flight; note the predominantly light-grey underparts with darker barring and the dark-brown head and neck (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Rio Douro, Miranda do Douro, Braganca, Portugal, May 2018]

Near-lateral view of a Short-toed Snake Eagle in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Short-toed Snake Eagle in flight seen in mellow light (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Short-toed Snake Eagle; note the very pale underwings, with few spots/bars
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Short-toed Snake Eagle in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, May 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Single/pair

Food, Diet

As their name already suggests, Short-toed Snake Eagles have a preference for snakes and amphibians.

Short-toed Snake Eagle with its prey, a small snake or a legless lizard (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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