Circaetus fasciolatus
The Southern Banded Snake Eagle, *Circaetus fasciolatus*, is a medium-sized raptor, a highly specialized predator of snakes, endemic to the coastal and lowland forests of eastern and southeastern Africa. Measuring 55-60 cm in length with a wingspan of 110-120 cm and weighing approximately 1 kg, its striking appearance includes dark brown to black upperparts contrasting sharply with white underparts, heavily barred with dark brown or black on the belly and flanks. Key identification marks for ...
This eagle primarily inhabits dense coastal forests, mature riverine woodlands, and other lowland woodlands, typically found at elevations below 1000 meters. It exhibits a strong preference for areas with high canopy cover and often near permanent water sources.
The diet consists almost exclusively of snakes, ranging from small to surprisingly large venomous and non-venomous species. It occasionally supplements this specialized diet with lizards, frogs, and small mammals or birds.
As a diurnal raptor, the Southern Banded Snake Eagle is active from dawn to dusk, often spending considerable time perched inconspicuously within the canopy of tall trees, where it also roosts. Its foraging strategy involves either soaring high over the forest, scanning for prey, or more commonly...
The Southern Banded Snake Eagle has a fragmented and discontinuous distribution across eastern and southeastern Africa, where it is primarily a year-round resident. Its breeding range extends along the coastal belt from southern Somalia through coastal Kenya and Tanzania, southward into Malawi, M...
Near Threatened
- The Southern Banded Snake Eagle is one of the most specialized snake predators among African raptors, with snakes making up over 90% of its diet. - Its unfeathered, heavily scaled tarsi (lower legs) act as a crucial protective armor against snake bites during the capture and handling of its pre...