Scientifically known as Circaetus beaudouini, the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is a snake eating Eagle species within the Accipitridae family basically found in the Sahel region of West Africa. The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is a medium sized Snake Eagle which inhabits the Savannah and grassland areas across a narrow range in Sub- Saharan Africa.
It is one of the rare bird species in Uganda spotted during Uganda Birding safaris & tours.
This bird forms a super species with the Black Chested Snake Eagle and the Short Toed Snake Eagle although it has been rated as vulnerable bird life species due to its rapid decline in numbers according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature over the past 30 to 35 years.
Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is a medium to large sized bird species measuring about 60 to 66 centimeters in length. This Snake Eagle species is characterized with a dark grey to brown back along with wings and a barred belly which is white in colour.
The bird species features wide wing spans which measures in a range of about 155 to 170 centimeters ands It has white under wings baring black bars along with the black tipped primary feathers. The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is also characterized with grey legs and cere hence having brightly yellow eyes.
Juvenile Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle generally features a brown colour along with streakings that are white on the head hence barring on the flanks.
Birders on Africa birding tours can spot this bird species.
Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle normally dwells on prominent perches that include dead trees and telegraph poles. Generally this bird’s behaviour is poorly known because it does not hunt for food in flight but rather a sit and wait hunter snake eagle species.
This Eagle bird species mainly feeds on snakes, birds, insects, lizards and some other small vertebrates and mammals such as rodents. During the feeding process, it hunts from the air occasionally hovering or from a perch.
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle inhabits the dry Savannah, cultivated areas and Open grassland commonly dwelling below 1,000 meters above the sea level. It occupies African region which spans Gambia, Sudan, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Central African Repulic, Maritania and Nigeria.
During the breeding period which occurs normally from November to March, both couples do participate in construction the breeding nest. The nest is normally made up of small sticks which is set at up to 25 meters in the top of a tree.
The female Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle lays only one egg which is incubated for a period of 45 days by both parents and fledging occurs within a period of 70 days after incubation process has occurred.
This bird species makes Uganda birding trips and birdwatching safaris in Africa unforgettable!
Robert
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