The short-toed snake eagle (lat. Circaetus gallicus), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey. In Greece, as in all other European countries, it is a migratory bird, with a very characteristic flight. It lives in rocky habitats with sparse woody vegetation, or in riparian forests. It feeds on snakes, rodents, lizards, and small turtles.
In Europe, the populations of the short-toed snake eagle have declined dramatically since the mid-19th century onwards due to hunting as well as the degradation or - even - the destruction of its habitats. Today, the species is mainly threatened by poaching, fires (especially in Mediterranean countries), but also deforestation.
FILOTIS - Database for the Greek Nature
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