Western banded snake eagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western banded snake eagle |
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| Matetsi Safari Area, Zimbabwe | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Circaetus
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| Species: |
cinerascens
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The western banded snake eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) is a cool bird of prey from Africa. It's mostly grey-brown with a short tail and a big head. Young eagles are a bit lighter brown than adults. Their feathers have white edges. This eagle has dark streaks on its head, neck, and chest. Its belly and thighs are white with light brown streaks. Sometimes, younger eagles are just dark grey-brown without any streaks. Their eyes, ears, and legs are bright yellow. They also have a special crest on their chest!
Contents
Where Western Banded Snake Eagles Live
Western banded snake eagles like to live in woodlands. They especially enjoy areas near rivers. However, they stay away from very thick forests.
How Western Banded Snake Eagles Behave
These eagles are great hunters. They mostly eat snakes, but they also catch other small animals. They often wait quietly on a branch, then drop down to catch their prey. This could be on a tree trunk, in the leaves, or on the ground.
Western banded snake eagles are usually alone and very good at hiding. Because they don't move around a lot, you might only know they are there by hearing their calls. They sometimes fly high in the sky while making a loud, high-pitched sound like 'kok-kok-kok-kok-kok'.
Where to Find Western Banded Snake Eagles
You can find these eagles in the northern parts of Africa. They live from Senegal and Gambia in the west, all the way to Ethiopia in the east. They also live south to Angola and Zimbabwe. They are mostly found west of the Rift Valley. However, they are usually not found in the western lowland forests.
These eagles prefer woodlands and the edges of forests. They are not very common and can be hard to spot. Their homes are spread out, and they are at risk if their river habitats are lost. They mainly eat reptiles and amphibians, catching them on the ground or in trees.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The western banded snake eagle builds a new nest every year. They make their nests from sticks, hidden well among climbing plants and leaves. The female eagle lays only one egg. The mother eagle usually sits on the egg for about 35 to 55 days. After hatching, the young eagle stays in the nest for 10 to 15 weeks before it can fly.
