Bird Guide

Black-chested Snake Eagle vs Short-toed Snake Eagle

Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Huge1.5 kgWoodland

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.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa · CC BY 2.0
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Huge1.7 kgWoodland

These are relatively large snake eagles. Adults are 59 to 70 cm (23 to 28 in) long with a 162 to 195 cm (5 ft 4 in to 6 ft 5 in) wingspan and weigh 1.2–2.3 kg (2.6–5.1 lb), an average weight for the species is about 1.7 kg (3.7 lb). They can be recognised in the field by their predominantly white underside, the upper parts being greyish brown. The chin, throat and upper breast are a pale, earthy brown. The tail has 3 or 4 bars. Additional indications are an owl-like rounded head, brightly yellow eyes and lightly barred under wing.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Short-toed Snake Eagle
Recorded by Benoît Van Hecke · Call · Quinçay, Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Hobbyfotowiki · CC0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-chested Snake Eagle and Short-toed Snake Eagle.