11-8-2025 CANAL TRAVASE DE JUCAR, VALENCIA - SHORT TOED SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)

The Short-toed Snake Eagle, Circaetus gallicus, also known as the Short-toed Eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae. This raptor is distinguished by its predominantly white underside with greyish brown upper parts, and a pale, earthy brown chin, throat, and upper breast. The tail is marked with 3 or 4 bars. Notable features include an owl-like rounded head, strikingly yellow eyes, and lightly barred underwings. Adults range from 59 to 70 cm in length, with a wingspan of 162 to 195 cm, and weigh between 1.2 and 2.3 kg.

In flight, the Short-toed Snake Eagle can be identified by its sizeable wingspan and characteristic white underside. The yellow eyes and rounded head are distinctive, as are the barring on the tail and underwings. When soaring, it holds its wings in a flat position, and it may hover like a kestrel when hunting.

The Short-toed Snake Eagle inhabits open cultivated plains, arid stony deciduous scrub areas, foothills, and semi-desert regions. It requires trees for nesting and open habitats, such as cultivations and grasslands, for foraging.

This Old World species is found across the Mediterranean basin, extending into Russia, the Middle East, parts of Western Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, and some Indonesian islands. Northern populations migrate to sub-Saharan Africa during the winter months.

The Short-toed Snake Eagle is known for its hunting prowess, specializing in reptiles, primarily snakes and lizards. It may engage in ground battles with larger snakes. Occasionally, it preys on small mammals and, rarely, birds and large insects. This eagle is generally silent but may emit musical whistling notes, especially during the breeding season.

While typically silent, the Short-toed Snake Eagle can produce a variety of musical whistling notes, particularly during the breeding season.

During breeding, the Short-toed Snake Eagle lays a single egg and can live up to 17 years. It nests in trees and requires open habitats for successful foraging to provide for its young.

The Short-toed Snake Eagle may be confused with other snake eagles or large raptors, but its distinctive white underside, yellow eyes, and hovering behavior help differentiate it from similar species.

The diet of the Short-toed Snake Eagle consists mostly of reptiles, with snakes being the primary food source. It hunts from the air, often soaring or hovering to spot prey before striking.

The Short-toed Snake Eagle is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its numbers have declined in Europe due to changes in agriculture and land use, necessitating protection to prevent further decreases in population. In the middle and far eastern parts of its range, the species is not yet threatened.

25-9-2023 AINSA, ARAGON - SHORT TOED SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)

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 genus name Circaetus is from the Ancient Greek kirkos, a type of hawk, and aetos, "eagle". The specific gallicus means "of Gallia".

These are relatively large snake eagles. Adults are 59 to 70 cm (23 to 28 in) long with a 162 to 195 cm (5 ft 4 in to 6 ft 5 in) wingspan and weigh 1.2–2.3 kg (2.6–5.1 lb), an average weight for the species is about 1.7 kg (3.7 lb). They can be recognised in the field by their predominantly white underside, the upper parts being greyish brown. The chin, throat and upper breast are a pale, earthy brown. The tail has 3 or 4 bars. Additional indications are an owl-like rounded head, brightly yellow eyes and lightly barred under wing.

The short-toed snake eagle spends more time on the wing than do most members of its genus. It favours soaring over hill slopes and hilltops on updraughts, and it does much of its hunting from this position at heights of up to 500 m (1,600 ft). When quartering open country it frequently hovers like a kestrel. When it soars it does so on flattish wings.

This is an Old World species found throughout the Mediterranean basin, into Russia and the Middle East, and parts of Western Asia, and in the Indian Subcontinent and also further east in some Indonesian islands.

Those present on the northern edge of the Mediterranean and other parts of Europe migrate mainly to sub-Saharan Africa north of the equator, leaving in September/October and returning in April/May.Populations are resident. In Europe, it is most numerous in Spain where it is fairly common but elsewhere it is rare in many parts of its range. A bird on the Isles of Scilly, Britain, in October 1999 was the first confirmed record for that country.

The short-toed snake eagle is found in open cultivated plains, arid stony deciduous scrub areas and foothills and semi-desert areas. It requires trees for nesting and open habitats, such as cultivations and grasslands for foraging.

 Its prey is mostly reptiles, mainly snakes, but also some lizards. Sometimes they become entangled with larger snakes and battle on the ground. Occasionally, they prey on small mammals up to the size of a rabbit, and rarely birds and large insects.

This eagle is generally very silent. On occasions, it emits a variety of musical whistling notes. When breeding, it lays only one egg. It can live up to 17 years.

The short-toed snake eagle has suffered a steep decline in numbers and range in Europe and is now rare and still decreasing in several countries due to changes in agriculture and land use. It needs protection. In the middle and far eastern part of its range, this species is not yet threatened.

9-4-2023 MONTAVERNER, VALENCIA - SHORT TOED SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/5242-Circaetus-gallicus

Its prey is mostly reptiles, mainly snakes, but also some lizards.Sometimes they become entangled with larger snakes and battle on the ground.Occasionally, they prey on small mammals up to the size of a rabbit, and rarely birds and large insects.

This eagle is generally very silent. On occasions, it emits a variety of musical whistling notes. When breeding, it lays only one egg. It can live up to 17 years.

The short-toed snake eagle has suffered a steep decline in numbers and range in Europe and is now rare and still decreasing in several countries due to changes in agriculture and land use. It needs protection.[citation needed] In the middle and far eastern part of its range, this species is not yet threatened.

16-3-2014 PEGO MARSHES, ALICANTE - SHORT TOED SNAKE EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/5242-Circaetus-gallicus

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 genus name Circaetus is from the Ancient Greek kirkos, a type of hawk, and aetos, "eagle". The specific gallicus means "of Gallia"

This is an Old World species found throughout the Mediterranean basin, into Russia and the Middle East, and parts of Western Asia, and in the Indian Subcontinent and also further east in some Indonesian islands.

Those present on the northern edge of the Mediterranean and other parts of Europe migrate mainly to sub-Saharan Africa north of the equator, leaving in September/October and returning in April/May. In the Middle and Far East the populations are resident. In Europe, it is most numerous in Spain where it is fairly common but elsewhere it is rare in many parts of its range. A bird on the Isles of Scilly, Britain, in October 1999 was the first confirmed record for that country.

The short-toed snake eagle is found in open cultivated plains, arid stony deciduous scrub areas and foothills and semi-desert areas. It requires trees for nesting and open habitats, such as cultivations and grasslands for foraging