#snake eagle

“Black-chested (formerly short-toed) snake eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) with a snake, Awash National Park, Ethiopia.” - via Wikimedia Commons

Brown Snake Eagle. Sabi Sands. South Africa.

Found in parts of eastern and southern Africa, these eagles live in deserts, open steppes, savannas, and woodland clearings. They eat mostly snakes and lizards, along with some frogs, small mammals, and birds. Usually hunting alone in open areas, they sometimes hover before dropping onto their prey. They build small stick nests in low thorny trees. Females lay and incubate a single egg while males bring food to them.

Black-chested snake eagle by sasidharravinuthala https://ift.tt/2JjTrEb

Apologies for blurry quality; focusing on the bird was unbearable with my little point and shoot digital camera. Just getting this picture was a miracle, though the eagle did me the excellent favor of hovering in place for half an hour so I had multiple chances!