Short-toed snake-eagle

Description

The short-toed snake eagle (Circaetus gallicus),also known as 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 Gaul".Adults are 62–67 cm (2 ft 0 in–2 ft 2 in) long with a 170–185 cm (5 ft 7 in–6 ft 1 in) wingspan and weigh 1.2–2.3 kg (2.6–5.1 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 is an accomplished flyer and 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.