The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
Black-chested Snake Eagle
Afrikaans name: Swartborsslangarend
Black-chested Snake Eagle
Photo © EcoView - Fotolia.com
Circaetus pectoralis
The Black-chested Snake Eagle has a wide distribution from South Africa to Ethiopia.á
Its preferred habitat is open grassland with some tall trees. It can often be seen percehed on the top of a tree or patrolling over the grasslands looking for prey.
As with other Snake Eagles it has a large eye and presumably has excellent vision.
The main food of this eagle is snakes but it does eat other reptiles as well. It also eats frogs and small mammals. After catching a snake it flies off and eats it in the air.
Photo © EcoView - Fotolia.com
References and further reading
The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Published: 1984 - Page: 57Wild Issue 47 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 80
Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 54
The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 9
The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 57
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 36
Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 153
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 90
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 102
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 123
Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Published: 1998 - Page: 58
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 128
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 105
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 99
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 160
Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 17
Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 74
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 160
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 54
Eagle Days - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1973 - Page: 119
Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Published: 1989 - Page: 339
Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 55
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 42
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 52
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 17
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 66
Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 120
An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 28
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 78
An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 96
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 127
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 127
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 74