Black chested snake eagle

Introduction: Black-chested snake-eagles (Circaetus pectoralis) habitat range extends from semi-desert to open grassland to closed deciduous woodland. Groups of up to 60 can be observed roosting on the top of poles or a tree top.

Distribution: Widespread in Namibia including Etosha National Park, Caprivi, Namib Desert, Kalahari Desert, Orange River and most other regions of the country.

Diet: Usually strikes prey from behind head, crushing victim with their strong feet. Eats mainly snakes including cobras, puff adders, boomslang. Also eats lizards, chameleons, frogs, rodents, occasionally fish, termites, beetles and other insects. Snakes are swallowed whole whilst other prey is stored before being eaten.

Description: Pectoralis is Greek for 'of the breast' referring to the blackish brown upper breast and throat and white lower breast.

Breeding: Both male and female build a saucer-shaped nest of small sticks and placed on top of a tree. Only 1 egg is laid between March and October and incubated for 52 days.

Size: 65cm.

Weight: 1.5kg.

Wingspan: 1.8m.