| Latin Name |
Circaetus gallicus |
| Conservation Status |
Least Concern |
| Location
| Southern & Central Europe, Middle East, Russia & Africa |
| Colour |
Grey/Brown/White |
| Length |
63 - 68 cms (25 - 28 inches) |
| Wingspan |
185 - 195 cm (73 - 77 inches) |
| Weight |
1.7 - 1.9 Kgs (3.7 - 4.2 lbs) |
| Life Expectancy |
Up to 17 Yrs |
Main Characteristics
Short-Toed Eagles are a medium sized bird of prey. They have a length of 63 - 68 cms (25 - 28 inches), a wingspan of 185 - 195 cms (73 - 77 inches) and they weigh 1.7 - 1.9 Kgs (3.7 - 4.2 lbs).
They have a predominantly white underside and their upper parts are coloured grey/brown. Their tail has 3 - 4 bars and they are lightly barred under their wings. Their head is rounded and they have yellow coloured eyes.
They are very accomplished flyers and spend most of their time on the wing, reaching heights of up to 500 m (1,640 ft).
Short-Toed Eagles are generally silent but sometimes they will emit a variety of musical whistling notes.
Habitat
Short-Toed Eagles are found in open plains, arid stony scrub areas and semi-desert areas of Southern and Central Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Africa.
Short-Toed Eagles that are found in Europe migrate to sub-sahara Africa, they leave in September/October and return to Europe in April/May. In the Middle East the populations are resident.
Diet
Short-Toed Eagles mainly feed upon reptiles, commonly snakes and lizards. Occasionally they will eat small mammals, such as rabbits, and rarely they will feed on birds and insects.
Breeding
The nests of Short-Toed Eagles are built in trees approximately 6 - 7 m (19.7 - 23 ft) above the ground. They nest in the same area year after year, but not necessarily in the same nest site.
Short -Toed Eagles lay only one egg between April and June. The female will incubate it for 45 - 47 days and when the chicks hatch they weigh approximately 90 g (3.2 oz). At 25 days old they will begin to get feathers and by the time they reach 45 days old, they are fully feathered and are practicing flapping their wings.
The chicks fledge when they are 70 - 75 days old but they will remain around the nesting area for 6 months. Short-Toed Eagles reach breeding age at approximately 5 years old.
Predators
Short-Toed Eagles have no natural predators.
Subspecies
There are no subspecies of the Short-Toed Eagle.
Interesting Facts
The Short-Toed Eagle is also known as:
Short-Toed Snake Eagle
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