Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-chested Snake Eagle
Circaetus pectoralis
Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.5 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 pectoralis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-chested Snake Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Black-chested Snake Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF e Sudan and Ethiopia to South Africa.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 52.8 cm and a tail of around 25.9 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 9.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-chested Snake Eagle?
The Black-chested Snake Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Black-chested Snake Eagle live?
The Black-chested Snake Eagle is found across Africa with a range covering AF e Sudan and Ethiopia to South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-chested Snake Eagle belong to?
The Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Black-chested Snake Eagle eat?
The Black-chested Snake Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Black-chested Snake Eagle migrate?
The Black-chested Snake Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-chested 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 Black-chested Snake Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Black-chested Snake Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-chested Snake Eagle's range?
The Black-chested Snake Eagle has a mapped global range of about 9.3 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.