Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle
Circaetus beaudouini
Beaudouin's Snake Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini) — 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 Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Circaetus
- Species beaudouini
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal to South Sudan, nw Kenya and Uganda.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 50.2 cm and a tail of around 26 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.5 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle?
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle live?
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal to South Sudan, nw Kenya and Uganda, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle belong to?
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle eat?
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle migrate?
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
How large is the Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle's range?
The Beaudouin’s Snake Eagle has a mapped global range of about 3.5 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.