- Short-toed Eagle
Taxobox
name = Short-toed Eagle
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
range_
range_map_width = 240px
range_map_caption = Light Green: nesting area
Blue: wintering area
Dark Green: resident all year
image_width = 250px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Falconiformes
familia =Accipitridae
subfamilia =Circaetinae
genus = "Circaetus "
species = "C. gallicus"
binomial = "Circaetus gallicus"
binomial_authority = ( Gmelin, 1788)The Short-toed Eagle ("Circaetus gallicus") is a medium-sized
bird of prey in the familyAccipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites,buzzard s and harriers.Range and habitat
This is an
Old World species spread throughout theMediterranean basin and intoRussia and theMiddle East , and into parts ofAsia (Pakistan ,India and someIndonesia n islands).Those present on the northern edge of the Mediterranean and other parts of
Europe migrate mainly tosub-Saharan Africa north of theequator , leaving in September/October and returning in April/May. In the Middle and Far East the populations are resident. In Europe it is most numerous inSpain where it is fairly common but elsewhere it is rare in many parts of its range.A bird on theIsles of Scilly , Britain, in October1999 was the first confirmed record for that country.The Short-toed Eagle is found in open cultivated plains, arid stony deciduous scrub areas and foothills and semi-desert areas. It requires trees for nesting.
Description
Adults are 63-68 cm long with an 185-195 cm wingspan and weigh 1.7-1.9 kg. 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.The Short-toed Eagle is an accomplished flyer and spends more time on the wing than do most members of its genus. It favours soaring over hill slopes and hilltops on updraughts, and it does much of its hunting from this position at heights of up to 500 meters. When quartering open country it frequently hovers like a Kestrel. When it soars it does so on flattish wings.
Behaviour
Its prey is mostly reptiles, mainly
snake s, but also somelizard s. Occasionally small mammals to the size of a rabbit; rarely birds and large insects.This eagle is generally very silent. On occasions it emits a variety of musical whistling notes. When breeding it lays only one egg, but can live up to 17 years.
The Short-toed Eagle has suffered a steep decline in numbers and range in Europe and is now rare and still decreasing in several countries due to changes in agriculture and land-use. It needs protection. In the middle and far eastern part of its range this species is not yet threatened.
References
*
External links
* [http://hoveroverus.info HoverOverUs • Short-toed Eagle] informational navigator
* [http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/111_Short-toed_EagleCgallicus.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta]
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