Birds · Accipitriformes · Accipitridae

Short-toed Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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It specialises almost entirely in hunting snakes, which it can carry back to the nest dangling from its bill in flight.

Weight

1.2 kg – 2.3 kg

Size

59 cm – 72 cm

Lifespan

17 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

SavannaTemperate forestCarnivore Diurnal Solitary Bird Savanna Temperate forest

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Fun facts

Its rounded, almost owl-like head gives it an unmistakable profile among European raptors.
It eats almost nothing but reptiles, above all snakes.
It lives in open country, scrub and light woodland of southern Europe, North Africa and Asia.
alimentaciónIt specialises in catching snakes, venomous ones included, thanks to legs covered in thick scales that protect it from bites.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Open country, scrub and light woodland of southern Europe, North Africa and Asia
Birth weight: Born altricial and covered in down
Size at birth: Born altricial
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years
Gestation / incubation: 44-47 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 egg per clutch

Sources consulted: Birda; Oiseaux-birds.com; BioDB; Animalia.bio; ResearchGate (breeding biology study); Eagle Directory; Les Oiseaux; Wikipedia (Short-toed snake eagle)