Scientific Name: Circaetus gallicus
Malay Name: Helang-Ular Utara
Chinese Name: 短趾雕
Range: Found from southwest Europe to northwest Africa, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, northern China with some northern populations wintering south to tropical Africa and mainland Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: gallicus, sacerdotis.
Local Subspecies: gallicus
Size: 62-67 cm
Identification: Pale morph adult has greyish-brown upperparts, rounded brownish head, yellowish eyes, pale underparts with faint dark markings, whitish underwing with some dark barring and pale tail with three dark bands. Dark morph individual resembles pale morph but has distinctive dark hood.
Similar looking species: Changeable Hawk-Eagle
Habitat: Reclaimed land, wooded grassland, open country and forest.
Behaviour/Ecology: Usually observed soaring and circling at great heights.
Local Status: Vagrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)
- Bird List Revision for May 2019 (Revisions)
- Year in Review – 2022! (Blog)
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Short-toed Snake-Eagle)
References:
BirdLife International. (2021). Circaetus gallicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22734216A203141317.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Short-toed Snake Eagle. Retrieved on December 5, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/short-toed-snake-eagle.