 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
| Snake eagles | |
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| Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Subfamily: | Circaetinae Blyth, 1851 |
| Type genus | |
| Circaetus Vieillot, 1816
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| Genera | |
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See text. | |
Circaetinae is a subfamily of the family Accipitridae which contains a group of medium to large broad-winged birds of prey.[1][2] The group is sometimes treated as tribe Circaetini.[3][4] These birds mainly specialise in feeding on snakes and other reptiles, which is the reason most are referred to as "snake-eagles" or "serpent-eagles". The exceptions are the bateleur, a more generalised hunter, and the Philippine eagle, which preys on mammals and birds.
All but one of the subfamily are restricted to warmer parts of the Old World: Spilornis and Pithecophaga in south Asia, the others in Africa. The short-toed eagle Circaetus gallicus migrates between temperate Eurasia and Africa, as well as being resident in India.
They have hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs and powerful talons. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable them to spot potential prey from a distance.
- ^ Lerner, Heather R.L.; Mindell, David P. (2005). "Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37 (2): 327–346. Bibcode:2005MolPE..37..327L. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010. PMID 15925523.
- ^ Mindell, David P.; Fuchs, Jérôme; Johnson, Jeff A. (2018). "Phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic diversity of diurnal raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes". Birds of Prey. pp. 3–32. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-73745-4_1. ISBN 978-3-319-73744-7.
- ^ Edward C., Dickinson; Remsen Jr., James V., eds. (2013). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Non-passerines (4th ed.). Aves Press.
- ^ "ACCIPITRIDAE - Kites, Hawks and Eagles". Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 27 March 2024.