Prakruti Parichay
AccipitridaeCircaetus

Short-toed Snake Eagle

CircBlltus gallicus

7–7 cmVery Small
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Resident. Pakistan, S Nepal and India. Long and broad wings, pinched in at base, and rather long tail. Head broad and rounded. Soars with wings flat or slightly raised; frequently hovers. When perched, appears big-headed, with wing-tips reaching tail-end, and shows long unfeathered ta rsus. Plumage variable, often with dark head and breast, barred underbody, dark trailing edge to underwing, and broad subterminal tail-band; can be very pale on head. underbody and underwing. On upperside. in all plumages, pale brown inner wing-coverts contrast with dark greater coverts and flight feathers. Juvenile similar in plumage to adult. Open country and scrub-covered hills.

Colour

Brown
Average size
7 cm
Habitat
Open country and scrub-covered hills.
Behaviour
Resident.

About this bird

Resident. Pakistan, S Nepal and India. Long and broad wings, pinched in at base, and rather long tail. Head broad and rounded. Soars with wings flat or slightly raised; frequently hovers. When perched, appears big-headed, with wing-tips reaching tail-end, and shows long unfeathered ta rsus. Plumage variable, often with dark head and breast, barred underbody, dark trailing edge to underwing, and broad subterminal tail-band; can be very pale on head. underbody and underwing. On upperside. in all plumages, pale brown inner wing-coverts contrast with dark greater coverts and flight feathers. Juvenile similar in plumage to adult. Open country and scrub-covered hills.

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Short-toed Snake Eagle is smaller than Pale-billed Rowerpecker.

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This bird

Short-toed Snake Eagle

CircBlltus gallicus

7–7 cm