Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Banded Snake Eagle
Circaetus cinerascens
Western Banded Snake Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Banded Snake Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Circaetus
- Species cinerascens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Western Banded Snake Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Western Banded Snake Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Western Banded Snake Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to w Ethiopia and s to Namibia and Zimbabwe.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 38 cm and a tail of around 22.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Banded Snake Eagle?
The Western Banded Snake Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Western Banded Snake Eagle live?
The Western Banded Snake Eagle is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to w Ethiopia and s to Namibia and Zimbabwe, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Western Banded Snake Eagle belong to?
The Western Banded Snake Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Western Banded Snake Eagle eat?
The Western Banded Snake Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Western Banded Snake Eagle migrate?
The Western Banded Snake Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Western Banded Snake Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Western Banded Snake Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Western Banded Snake Eagle — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Western Banded Snake Eagle's range?
The Western Banded Snake Eagle has a mapped global range of about 5.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.