A medium-sized bird of prey found across the woodlands, riverine forests, and savanna regions of western and central Africa. As its name suggests, this raptor specializes in hunting snakes, and its quiet, solitary nature makes it one of the more elusive members of Africa’s eagle family. With its compact build, sharp yellow eyes, and a preference for shady riverbanks over open skies, the Western banded snake eagle is a stealthy and highly specialized predator.
It has a short, rounded tail and broad wings, giving it a relatively stocky silhouette. Its plumage is mostly dark brown or grayish-brown, with lighter, finely barred underparts, and a distinctive bare yellow face and legs. The eyes are bright yellow, which gives it an intense, alert look that suits its role as a ground-focused hunter.
Unlike soaring eagles often seen gliding high in the sky, the Western banded snake eagle is typically low-flying and inconspicuous, often perching quietly in dense foliage, where it waits and watches for prey. It preys mainly on snakes, including venomous species, but will also take lizards, small mammals, and occasionally amphibians. Its legs are well-armored with tough scales, a natural defense against snake bites—a crucial trait for a bird that wrestles with reptiles.
It hunts using a sit-and-wait strategy, watching the ground from a shaded perch before swooping down to snatch a snake or lizard with its powerful talons. The eagle then quickly subdues the prey, often decapitating it before swallowing it whole or carrying it to a safer location to feed.
Distribution
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Ethiopia
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Kenya
Malawi
Mali
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
