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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
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
Southern Banded Snake EagleCircaetus fasciolatusThe southern banded snake eagle is a rather small, stocky snake eagle with a large, rounded head which has a hooded beak.
Western Banded Snake EagleCircaetus cinerascensIt has a total length of 50-58 cm (19 to 22 in) and a wingspan of 120-134 cm (3 ft 11 in to 4 ft 4 in)
Black-chested Snake EagleCircaetus pectoralisThe main identifying character of this bird is its dark brown-black head and chest, to which it owes its name.
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