Snake Eagles (Circaetus spp)

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Re: Bird Identification

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Richprins
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Brown Snake-Eagle

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The brown snake eagle (Circaetus cinereus) is a fairly large species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in West, East and southern Africa. This species is an almost obligate predator of a variety of snakes. A very solitary bird, the brown snake eagle has a prolonged breeding cycle and raises a single eaglet. Although probably naturally scarce, it is classified as a Least concern species as it continues to occur over a very broad range.

Description
Their plumage about the body is entirely a fairly dark brown, with some claims of a purplish sheen in certain light conditions.The body colour extends to the wings but for their contrasting unmarked flight feathers which are whitish-grey. The shortish tail, which is most easily seen in flight, is at all ages barred brown and greyish cream. The juvenile is similar in appearance and colour but tends to have very sparse white feather bases, with birds from south of the range apparently showing heavier white speckling, especially on the abdomen and head. This species has a large head and bare legs, which serve to distinguish it from other brownish medium-sized eagles in Africa, although a juvenile bateleur could be confused with one in poor light, but its colour is more varying, its eyes brown and the species has a shorter tail and shorter legs. The brown snake eagle is of medium size relative to species referred to as eagles, however it is the largest member of the Circaetus genus. Of the living species in the Circaetinae subfamily, it is similar in size to the bateleur but much smaller than the Philippine eagle. Total length is from 66 to 78 cm (26 to 31 in) and wingspan is from 160 to 185 cm, though wingspans of up to 200 cm may possibly be attained. Known weights are between 1.5 and 2.5 kg, with an average of around 2.05 kg. Despite its fairly large size, this species has a relatively small wing spread, being smaller winged than the bateleur and even the much lighter black-breasted snake eagle. The brown snake eagle's call is a hoarse, guttural hok-hok-hok-hok, usually uttered in territorial displays at conspecifics and sometimes culminating in a crowing kaaww. Pairs also call a soft kwee-oo probably as a contact call at the nest.

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WATCH:
A brown snake eagle just caught a Puff Adder and as injured as this Puff Adder was, it was still trying to slither away!

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https://www.latestsightings.com/single- ... -to-Escape


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Richprins
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Re: Snake Eagle

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A python! :shock:



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Saw this Brown Snake Eagle on the H10
Tinged by Pieter Etsebeth


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Snake Eagles (Circaetus spp)

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Southern Banded Snake Eagle



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Richprins
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Re: Southern Banded Snake Eagle

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Very interesting! :shock:

Did not know there was such a thing! \O


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Re: Southern Banded Snake Eagle

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A pity that the sound is so bad, or maybe it is my computer -O- Highly interesting though \O


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Peter Betts
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Re: Southern Banded Snake Eagle

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Richprins wrote: Wed May 13, 2020 7:46 am Very interesting! :shock:

Did not know there was such a thing! \O
Yes Rich ..a short trip south of Nelspruit arounf Swaziland and off to NDumu, Mkuzi etc ..Plenty S Banded Snake Eagles and go to Okavango, Caprivi to see the Western Banded Snake Eagle


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Re: Southern Banded Snake Eagle

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Ok will go soon, Peter! lol [CV19]


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Re: Southern Banded Snake Eagle

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I doubt that you will find it in Okavango and Caprivi O** Maybe the Western Banded Snake Eagle ;-)


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Peter Betts
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Re: Southern Banded Snake Eagle

Post by Peter Betts »

Lisbeth wrote: Thu May 14, 2020 3:13 pm I doubt that you will find it in Okavango and Caprivi O** Maybe the Western Banded Snake Eagle ;-)
Correct thats what I said above


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