Beaudouin's snake eagle is a species of snake eagle in the family Accipitridae found in the Sahel region of west Africa. It forms a superspecies with the Palearctic short-toed snake eagle Circaetus gallicus and the black-chested snake eagle Circaetus pectoralis. This bird seems to be declining in numbers and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it as a "vulnerable species".
Region
Sahel belt of West and Central Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs from Senegal and The Gambia east through the Sahelian zones of Mali, Burkina Faso, northern Ghana, Togo and Benin, Niger, northern Nigeria and Cameroon, and into Chad and western Sudan/South Sudan. It favors open savanna, lightly wooded grasslands, and agropastoral mosaics with scattered tall trees or termite mounds for perching. It is also found near floodplains and seasonal wetlands where snakes are plentiful. Local movements track rainfall and prey availability, but many birds are resident within broad territories.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A Sahel specialist, Beaudouin's snake eagle preys largely on snakes and other reptiles and has heavily scaled, unfeathered legs to resist bites. It often hunts by soaring low over open savanna or by watching from exposed perches. The species forms a superspecies with the Palearctic short-toed snake eagle and the black-chested snake eagle. Habitat loss, human disturbance, and persecution contribute to its ongoing decline.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
soaring glider
Social Behavior
Usually encountered alone or in pairs, occupying large territories with suitable perches and hunting grounds. Nests high in a tree, often an isolated tall tree such as an acacia or baobab, building a small stick platform. Clutch size is typically one egg, with both adults participating in incubation and care. Breeding is often timed to local prey peaks following rains.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Generally quiet, but during display may give clear, whistled calls and occasional yelping notes. Vocal activity increases near the nest and during territorial flights, though calls are infrequent compared to many other raptors.
