Bird Guide

Beaudouin's Snake Eagle

Circaetus beaudouini

VulnerableVertebratesWoodlandPlatform nestHuge · 1.5 kg

About the Beaudouin's Snake Eagle

Beaudouin's snake eagle is a species of snake eagle in the family Accipitridae found in the Sahel region of west Africa. It forms a superspecies with the Palearctic short-toed snake eagle Circaetus gallicus and the black-chested snake eagle Circaetus pectoralis. This bird seems to be declining in numbers and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as a "vulnerable species".

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The bird has a wingspan of 170 cm (67 in). A large snake eagle with grey-brown upperparts, including the head and chest, contrasting with white underparts barred with brown and white vent. It has a black bill and large, bright yellow eyes with long pale grey, unfeathered legs. Juveniles are all dark.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Beaudouin's Snake Eagle lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger.

When to see the Beaudouin's Snake Eagle

Peak activity in November · a winter visitor species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Beaudouin's Snake Eagle in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.