The short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.

Large, slightly ungainly raptor with long and very broad wings, a shortish tail, and a conspicuously big head. Pale belly and underwings contrast with the darker head in most adults, but juveniles have pale heads. All age groups have a tendency to look a bit disheveled. On perched birds look for the owl-like face and unfeathered legs.

The short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.

The Short-toed Eagle is also known as the European Snake-Eagle, or Serpent Eagle, which is very apt, since its main food source are snakes. One of its adaptations for catching snakes is the evolution of short talons, which are ideal for gripping snakes, which explains the …

Short-Toed Snake Eagles are medium-sized to large raptors that live across a very large range, spanning Europe to Southeast Asia. They form a clade with Terathopius ecaudatus (Bateleur); they also make up a superspecies with Circaetus beaudouini (Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle) and Circaetus pectoralis (Black-Chested Snake Eagle).

Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Habitat It uses a variety of habitats within warm temperate and tropical environments, and is recorded up to 2,300 m (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Diet It specialises in feeding on reptiles, particularly snakes (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Breeding site The nest is almost always built relatively low in a tree (del Hoyo et al. 1994).

Characterized by broad wings and a relatively short toe that aids in grasping slippery prey, the short-toed snake eagle prefers warm, arid, rocky, or sandy regions where its main prey, snakes, are abundant.

Mar 4, 2020 · Short-toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.shteag1.01

Scientific Name: Circaetus gallicus. Malay Name: Helang-Ular Utara. Chinese Name: 短趾雕. Range: Found from southwest Europe to northwest Africa, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, northern China with some northern populations wintering south to tropical Africa and mainland Southeast Asia. Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: gallicus, sacerdotis.