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

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	146	Circaetus pectoralis
2nd	146	Circaetus pectoralis
3rd	146	Circaetus pectoralis
4th	146	Circaetus pectoralis
5th	143	Circaetus gallicus
6th	143	Circaetus pectoralis
7th	360	Circaetus pectoralis

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	146	Black-breasted Harrier-eagle
2nd	146	Black-breasted Snake-eagle
3rd	146	Black-breasted Snake-eagle
4th	146	Black-breasted Snake-eagle
5th	143	Blackbreasted Snake Eagle
6th	143	Blackbreasted Snake Eagle
7th	360	Black-chested Snake Eagle

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	146	Swartbors-uilarend
2nd	146	Swartbors-slangarend
3rd	146	Swartbors-slangarend
4th	146	Swartbors-slangarend
5th	143	Swartborsslangarend
6th	143	Swartborsslangarend
7th	360	Swartborsslangarend

References and further reading

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Published: 1984 - Page: 57

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 54

Wild Issue 47 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 80

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 57

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 153

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 9

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

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 36

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 128

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 South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 99

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 105

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 77

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 148

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

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 160

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 74

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 54

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 17

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 Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 42

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 52

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 120

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 66

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 55

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: 28

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 Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 74

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 127

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds