18-4-2018 CHOBE NAT PARK, BOTSWANA - BROWN SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus cinereus)

The Brown Snake Eagle, with its scientific name Circaetus cinereus, is a robust bird of prey belonging to the Accipitridae family. It is characterized by its predominantly dark brown plumage, which may exhibit a purplish sheen under certain lighting conditions. The wings are similarly colored, save for the contrasting whitish-grey unmarked flight feathers. A relatively short tail displays brown and grayish cream bars, visible during flight.

This medium-sized eagle is distinguished by its large head and bare legs, setting it apart from other brownish eagles in Africa. Juveniles resemble adults but may show sparse white feather bases, with southern individuals displaying more pronounced white speckling. The species can be confused with a juvenile Bateleur in poor light, but the Bateleur has more varied coloration, brown eyes, a shorter tail, and shorter legs.

The Brown Snake Eagle inhabits open woods and wooded savanna, often favoring areas with gulleys or wooded hillocks that interrupt flat terrain. It shows a preference for more densely wooded areas compared to related snake eagles and can be found from sea level up to elevations of 2,000 meters.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BROWN SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus cinereus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/5241-Circaetus-cinereus

23-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - BROWN SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus cinereus)

2-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BROWN SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus cinereus)

The brown snake-eagle is a large African bird of prey that specializes in hunting snakes, including venomous species like cobras and puff adders, which it kills by crushing their spine with its powerful feet. This solitary bird is found in sub-Saharan Africa in open woodlands and savannas. It has thick-scaled legs for protection against bites, hunts from an exposed perch, and typically lays only one egg per breeding season. 

Diet and hunting

Primary prey: The brown snake-eagle's diet consists mainly of snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, such as cobras, puff adders, and mambas. It will also eat other prey like lizards, monitor lizards, and small mammals.

Hunting technique: It hunts by perching on a high, exposed spot and scanning the ground below for prey. When it spots prey, it will swoop down to strike, using its powerful feet and talons to crush the snake's spine before it can bite.

Venom defense: It has heavily scaled legs that provide some protection against snake bites, but it is not immune and can sometimes be killed by its prey. 

Physical characteristics

Appearance: It is a large bird with a uniform brown head and body, yellow eyes, and a black beak. Its tail has narrow white barring.

Size:

Length: 68-75 cm

Wingspan: 1.6-1.75 m

Weight: Around 2 kg 

Habitat and distribution

Range: Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat: Prefers open, dense woodlands, savannas, and areas with low hills or gulleys. It avoids lowland forests and deserts.

Status: Listed as "least concern" by the IUCN due to its large range, even though it is not very common in most areas. 

Breeding and life cycle

Solitary nature: The brown snake-eagle is a solitary bird, though they may perch in pairs.

Nesting: It builds a small platform nest of sticks, sometimes reusing old nests from other birds.

Reproduction: Lays a single egg and incubates it for about 50 days. Both parents feed the chick, and the young bird fledges around 95-113 days old. 

18-4-2018 CHOBE NAT PARK, BOTSWANA - BROWN SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus cinereus)

The Brown Snake Eagle, with its scientific name Circaetus cinereus, is a robust bird of prey belonging to the Accipitridae family. It is characterized by its predominantly dark brown plumage, which may exhibit a purplish sheen under certain lighting conditions. The wings are similarly colored, save for the contrasting whitish-grey unmarked flight feathers. A relatively short tail displays brown and grayish cream bars, visible during flight.

This medium-sized eagle is distinguished by its large head and bare legs, setting it apart from other brownish eagles in Africa. Juveniles resemble adults but may show sparse white feather bases, with southern individuals displaying more pronounced white speckling. The species can be confused with a juvenile Bateleur in poor light, but the Bateleur has more varied coloration, brown eyes, a shorter tail, and shorter legs.

The Brown Snake Eagle inhabits open woods and wooded savanna, often favoring areas with gulleys or wooded hillocks that interrupt flat terrain. It shows a preference for more densely wooded areas compared to related snake eagles and can be found from sea level up to elevations of 2,000 meters.

Widely distributed across Africa, this species is found from southeastern Mauritania and Senegal to Guinea, Sierra Leone, and across to southern Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, and into southern Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends down through southern Africa to parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern and eastern South Africa.

The Brown Snake Eagle is a solitary bird, with breeding pairs rarely seen together. It exhibits territorial display flights, which can escalate to erratic butterfly-like movements and, in intense situations, talon interlocking and cartwheeling. This species is not migratory but may exhibit nomadic tendencies.

Its vocalizations include a hoarse, guttural "hok-hok-hok-hok," often used in territorial displays, and a softer "kwee-oo" likely serving as a contact call at the nest.

Breeding occurs from November to July in the northern part of its range and mainly from December to July in Zimbabwe and February to October in Kenya. Nests are relatively small and placed in flat-topped trees or on electric pylons. A single egg is laid and incubated primarily by the female for about 50 days. The juvenile remains in the nest for 60-100 days before fledging.

The Brown Snake Eagle may be confused with the juvenile Bateleur or other medium-sized brown eagles, but its large head, bare legs, and specific tail barring help differentiate it.

This eagle preys predominantly on snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, using its thick-skinned legs as protection against bites. It hunts from perches or hillocks, often decapitating large snakes before bringing them to the nest. Alternate prey includes monitor lizards, toads, francolins, guineafowl, chickens, rats, and possibly other mammals.

The Brown Snake Eagle is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad range and a presence over 23.3 thousand square kilometers. Although it may be naturally scarce and potentially declining, it does not currently require immediate conservation attention.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - BROWN SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus cinereus)

The Brown Snake Eagle, with its scientific name Circaetus cinereus, is a robust bird of prey belonging to the Accipitridae family. It is characterized by its predominantly dark brown plumage, which may exhibit a purplish sheen under certain lighting conditions. The wings are similarly colored, save for the contrasting whitish-grey unmarked flight feathers. A relatively short tail displays brown and grayish cream bars, visible during flight.

This medium-sized eagle is distinguished by its large head and bare legs, setting it apart from other brownish eagles in Africa. Juveniles resemble adults but may show sparse white feather bases, with southern individuals displaying more pronounced white speckling. The species can be confused with a juvenile Bateleur in poor light, but the Bateleur has more varied coloration, brown eyes, a shorter tail, and shorter legs.

The Brown Snake Eagle inhabits open woods and wooded savanna, often favoring areas with gulleys or wooded hillocks that interrupt flat terrain. It shows a preference for more densely wooded areas compared to related snake eagles and can be found from sea level up to elevations of 2,000 meters.

Widely distributed across Africa, this species is found from southeastern Mauritania and Senegal to Guinea, Sierra Leone, and across to southern Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, and into southern Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends down through southern Africa to parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern and eastern South Africa.

The Brown Snake Eagle is a solitary bird, with breeding pairs rarely seen together. It exhibits territorial display flights, which can escalate to erratic butterfly-like movements and, in intense situations, talon interlocking and cartwheeling. This species is not migratory but may exhibit nomadic tendencies.

Its vocalizations include a hoarse, guttural "hok-hok-hok-hok," often used in territorial displays, and a softer "kwee-oo" likely serving as a contact call at the nest.

Breeding occurs from November to July in the northern part of its range and mainly from December to July in Zimbabwe and February to October in Kenya. Nests are relatively small and placed in flat-topped trees or on electric pylons. A single egg is laid and incubated primarily by the female for about 50 days. The juvenile remains in the nest for 60-100 days before fledging.

The Brown Snake Eagle may be confused with the juvenile Bateleur or other medium-sized brown eagles, but its large head, bare legs, and specific tail barring help differentiate it.

This eagle preys predominantly on snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, using its thick-skinned legs as protection against bites. It hunts from perches or hillocks, often decapitating large snakes before bringing them to the nest. Alternate prey includes monitor lizards, toads, francolins, guineafowl, chickens, rats, and possibly other mammals.

The Brown Snake Eagle is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad range and a presence over 23.3 thousand square kilometers. Although it may be naturally scarce and potentially declining, it does not currently require immediate conservation attention.