Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus 短趾雕
Category I. Accidental.
IDENTIFICATION
Nov. 2020, Monique Yeung.
62-70 cm. Long broad wings, relatively short head and medium length tail. Generally pale below with contrasting dark head and upper breast, though this can be poorly-marked (adults appear to be darker). Upperparts grey-brown. Large, owl-like face. Female larger than male.
VOCALISATIONS
Appears to vocalise little in the non-breeding season.
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT PREFERENCE
The sole record occurred over Lamma Island and was perhaps on active migration.
OCCURRENCE
2020: one was photographed soaring above Lamma Island on 7 November.
BEHAVIOUR, FORAGING & DIET
The sole record involved a bird being mobbed by Black Kites.
RANGE & SYSTEMATICS
Breeds from northwest Africa east through southern Europe and north to Estonia, thence to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northern China; winters in the Sahel and south Asia. Resident in south Asia and the Lesser Sundas.
The nominate subspecies occurs in most of its range apart from the Lesser Sundas, where C. g. sacerdotis is present.
CONSERVATION STATUS
IUCN: Least Concern. Population trend stable.
Yeung, M. (2024). Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus over Lamma Island. The first Hong Kong record. Hong Kong Bird Report 2020: 243-245.
