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WoodlandPlatform nestHuge · 1.5 kg
ID tip
The main identifying character of this bird is its dark brown-black head and chest, to which it owes its name. It is distinguished from the short-toed and Beaudouin's snake eagles by its uniform white lower underparts, in contrast to the darkly blotched belly of the short-toed snake eagle and narrowly barred lower underparts of the Beaudouin's. In flight, the dark head and chest contrast with the lower underparts and underwings, which are both white except for three narrow black terminal bars on the underwings. The sexes are alike in plumage, although the female is appreciably larger.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Black-chested Snake Eagle
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Black-chested Snake Eagle
The map shades 17 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in South Sudan, Sudan.
About the Black-chested Snake Eagle
The black-chested snake eagle or black-breasted snake eagle is a large African bird of prey of the family Accipitridae. It resembles other snake eagles and was formerly considered conspecific with the short-toed and Beaudouin's snake eagles, to which it is closely related.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Brown Snake EagleCircaetus cinereusTheir plumage about the body is entirely a fairly dark, hazel brown, with some claims of a purplish sheen in certain light conditions.
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)
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.
Side by side: Black-chested Snake Eagle vs Short-toed Snake Eagle · Black-chested Snake Eagle vs Brown Snake Eagle · Black-chested Snake Eagle vs Western Banded Snake Eagle
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