• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Difference between revisions of "Short-toed Snake Eagle" - BirdForum Opus

m (Short-toed Snake Eagle moved to Short-toed Eagle: Per Clements and H&M)
m (Text replacement - "''\[\[Media:[^\|]+\|Listen in an external program\]\]''" to "")
(20 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
[[Image:Short_Toed_Snake_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|kiran+poonacha|kiran poonacha}}<br />Bangalore, Karnataka, [[India]], November 2008]]
 +
'''Alternative name: Short-toed Eagle'''
 
;[[:Category:Circaetus|Circaetus]] gallicus
 
;[[:Category:Circaetus|Circaetus]] gallicus
[[Image:Short-toed_Snake_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Steve G<br />Photo taken: Lesvos, [[Greece]].]]
+
==Identification==
 +
62–70 cm (24½-27½ in)<br />
 +
*White underside
 +
*Greyish-brown upperparts
 +
*Chin, throat and upper breast are a pale, earthy brown
 +
*Tail has 3 or 4 bars
 +
*Owl-like rounded head
 +
*Bright yellow eyes
 +
*Light barring on under-wing.
 +
[[Image:Ste18.jpg|thumb|350px|right|In flight<br />Photo by {{user|Kevin+Wade|Kevin Wade}}<br />La Janda, Cádiz, Spain, 5 March 2015]]
  
  
 +
==Distribution==
 +
[[Europe]], [[Africa]] and [[Asia]].<br />
 +
'''Breeds''' in North-West [[Africa]] and much of [[Spain]], patchy distribution in central and southern [[France]], the Alps and [[Italy]], and in scattered pockets east to the Black Sea. More widespread in [[Greece]], the southern [[Balkans]] and the Caucasus, and from eastern [[Poland]] and the [[Ukraine]] eastwards. Widespread in [[Turkey]] with small numbers breeding in [[Syria]], [[Jordan]] and [[Israel]] and range extends eastwards to northern [[China]] and south to southern [[India]] and the Lesser Sundas ([[Indonesia]]).
  
==Identification==
+
Occasional in southern [[Europe]] in '''winter''' but most move to tropical [[Africa]] and follow the major migration routes [[Gibraltar]], the Bosphorus and [[Borçka]] in [[Turkey]]. In autumn this movement takes place in early August to mid-October with the peak in late September-early October.
63-68 cm. White underside, the upperparts being greyish brown. The chin, throat and upper breast are a pale, earthy brown. The tail has 3 or 4 bars. Owl-like rounded head, brightly yellow eyes and lightly barred under wing.
+
 
 +
The return movement is in March-May, peaking in late March. Small numbers of birds also use the [[Sicily]]-Cap Bon route. Occasionally seen north of breeding range in Continental Europe, reaching the [[Netherlands]] and records are now annual or almost so in [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] and a very rare vagrant to [[Norway]]. There is a single [[Britain|British]] record from the [[Isles of Scilly]] when one toured the islands for a few days in October 1999.
  
==Distribution==
 
[[Europe]], [[Africa]] and [[Asia]]. 
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
Up to four races have been recognised: <i>gallicus</i> in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and India, <i>beaudouini</i> in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia and pectoralis from Ethiopia to the Cape. Birds from eastern Asia have sometimes been separated as <i>heptneri</i>. Both <i>beaudouini</i> and <i>pectoralis</i> are often treated as full species but all three form mixed pairs where ranges overlap
+
[[Image:short_toed_snake_eagle_alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Showing owl-like face<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Bhindawas, Jhajjar, Haryana, [[India]], February-2017]]
 +
Regarded as [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] by most authorities<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.<br />
 +
 
 +
''Pectoralis'' and ''beaudouini'' have been split from this species as [[Black-breasted Snake Eagle]] and [[Beaudouin's Snake Eagle]].<br />
 +
The proposed subspecies ''heptneri'', ''ferox'' and ''hypoleucos'' (Eastern Asia) are usually considered invalid.
 +
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
In Eurasia prefers warm and dry areas where reptile prey is most abundant. Often in hilly country with woodland or scattered trees, heathlands and maquis, desert edges and rocky terrain. Nests in trees. In Africa a bird of open plains and lightly wooded country with Black-breasted Snake Eagle also found in deserts in south-west Africa.  
+
In Eurasia prefers warm and dry areas where reptile prey is most abundant. Often in hilly country with woodland or scattered trees, heathlands and maquis, desert edges and rocky terrain.
 +
 
 +
In Africa a bird of open plains and lightly wooded country.  
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
The diet includes reptiles, mainly snakes, but also some lizards. Occasionally small mammals to the size of a rabbit; rarely birds and large insects.
+
====Diet====
 
+
The diet consists mostly of snakes, but will also take other reptiles and small mammals.
1 egg is laid.  
+
====Breeding====
==Bird Song==
+
Nests in trees. A single egg is laid.  
<flashmp3>Circaetus gallicus (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
+
====Vocalisation====
''[[Media:Circaetus gallicus (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
+
{{ Audio|Circaetus gallicus (song).mp3 }}
  
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#BF Member observations
 +
#Wikipedia
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Circaetus+gallicus}}
 
{{GSearch|Circaetus+gallicus}}
*[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=837&Bird_Image_ID=40&Bird_Family_ID=96 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages]
+
<br />
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Circaetus]]
+
{{Video|Short_toed_Snake_Eagle}}
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Circaetus]][[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]]

Revision as of 13:32, 5 April 2021

Photo by kiran poonacha
Bangalore, Karnataka, India, November 2008

Alternative name: Short-toed Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Identification

62–70 cm (24½-27½ in)

  • White underside
  • Greyish-brown upperparts
  • Chin, throat and upper breast are a pale, earthy brown
  • Tail has 3 or 4 bars
  • Owl-like rounded head
  • Bright yellow eyes
  • Light barring on under-wing.
In flight
Photo by Kevin Wade
La Janda, Cádiz, Spain, 5 March 2015


Distribution

Europe, Africa and Asia.
Breeds in North-West Africa and much of Spain, patchy distribution in central and southern France, the Alps and Italy, and in scattered pockets east to the Black Sea. More widespread in Greece, the southern Balkans and the Caucasus, and from eastern Poland and the Ukraine eastwards. Widespread in Turkey with small numbers breeding in Syria, Jordan and Israel and range extends eastwards to northern China and south to southern India and the Lesser Sundas (Indonesia).

Occasional in southern Europe in winter but most move to tropical Africa and follow the major migration routes Gibraltar, the Bosphorus and Borçka in Turkey. In autumn this movement takes place in early August to mid-October with the peak in late September-early October.

The return movement is in March-May, peaking in late March. Small numbers of birds also use the Sicily-Cap Bon route. Occasionally seen north of breeding range in Continental Europe, reaching the Netherlands and records are now annual or almost so in Sweden and Finland and a very rare vagrant to Norway. There is a single British record from the Isles of Scilly when one toured the islands for a few days in October 1999.

Taxonomy

Showing owl-like face
Photo by Alok Tewari
Bhindawas, Jhajjar, Haryana, India, February-2017

Regarded as monotypic by most authorities[1].

Pectoralis and beaudouini have been split from this species as Black-breasted Snake Eagle and Beaudouin's Snake Eagle.
The proposed subspecies heptneri, ferox and hypoleucos (Eastern Asia) are usually considered invalid.

Habitat

In Eurasia prefers warm and dry areas where reptile prey is most abundant. Often in hilly country with woodland or scattered trees, heathlands and maquis, desert edges and rocky terrain.

In Africa a bird of open plains and lightly wooded country.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet consists mostly of snakes, but will also take other reptiles and small mammals.

Breeding

Nests in trees. A single egg is laid.

Vocalisation

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. BF Member observations
  3. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


Back
Top