Short-toed Snake Eagle

Short-toed snake eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Shirvan National Park

Included in the “Red Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It is a species of bird of prey belonging to the family of the Falconidae of the order of the Golden Eagle. It lives in Gobustan, in the Zuvand depression, in the Turyanchay DTG and in the arid landscapes of the Lesser Caucasus.

Its body length is 60-70 cm, the wingspan is 170-190 cm, it has a large head, a long tail, and yellow eyes. Its back and back feathers are grayish-brown, and its belly and breast feathers are white. During flight, dark spots are clearly visible on its chest and transverse stripes on its belly feathers. Its mass is 1.5-2 kg. The female bird
is larger than the male.
It inhabits open areas with sparse trees and hard rocks in the foothills and lowland regions. It is a nesting and migratory species. It begins nesting in April and leaves the country in September.