- Circaetus gallicus
Identification
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.
Distribution
Taxonomy
Up to four races have been recognised: gallicus in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and India, beaudouini in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia and pectoralis from Ethiopia to the Cape. Birds from eastern Asia have sometimes been separated as heptneri. Both beaudouini and pectoralis are often treated as full species but all three form mixed pairs where ranges overlap
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.
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.
1 egg is laid.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Circaetus gallicus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
