Brown Snake-Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Woodland. Large, dark brown eagle with yellow eyes and whitish legs. Distinctive upright stance.
Snake-Eagles
LC
Not Endemic
Brown Snake Eagle

Description

Common resident. Large brown eagle identified by whitish, unfeathered legs, large yellow eyes, large head with forward-facing eyes and erect stance. In flight, dark body and underwing coverts contrast with silvery-white flight feathers. The tail has four clear, dark bands. Immature starts with similar plumage to adult but less dark (a), then progresses to mottled stage (b). At all ages the downy under-feathers are white, therefore even adult appears speckled when moulting. Solitary in any woodland or coastal grassland. Still-hunts conspicuously from a bare branch or pylon, killing and eating large snakes on the ground or in a tree. Occasionally hovers briefly. Nests made of sticks in trees or other birds disused nest. 1,5-2,5 kg.

Quick Facts

size

Size

71-76 cm - VL

behaviour

Names

A: Bruinslangarend
Z: indlanyokensudu
Ss: Lejanoha Le Lesootho
G: Brauner Schlangenadler

Bird Family

Characterised by unfeathered legs, heads with loose feathers, giving a round-headed appearance, and large yellow eyes. They still-hunt by watching the ground from a perch, or hunt while flying.

Dark Brown
Savanna Bushveld

Distribution

Gallery

behaviour

Behaviour

Breeding

Breeding

Habitat

Habitat

behaviour

Best Locations

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