Western Banded Snake Eagle

About the Western Banded Snake Eagle

The western banded snake eagle is a grey-brown African raptor with a short tail and a large head. Juveniles have paler and browner upper parts than adults, with white-edged feathers. The eagle's head, neck and breast are dark-streaked. The underparts are white with pale brown streaks, mainly on belly and thighs. Subadults may be all dark grey-brown without any streak on underparts. The eyes, ears, and legs are yellow. They have crested chests.

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

ID tip

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Togo.

When to see it

Peak activity in July · a resident 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. Beaudouin's Snake EagleCircaetus beaudouiniThe bird has a wingspan of 170 cm (67 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.