Races:
Circaetus gallicus gallicus Gmelin, 1788
Circaetus gallicus heptneri Dementiev, 1932

No Synonyms

Description

Rare breeding migrant, but common in places. Inhabits low xerophytic mountains and foothills of main Tien Shan ridges, river valleys with scattered trees, sandy and clay deserts with low and sparse grasses. In southern ridges nests up to 2500 m (Chatkal ridge), but hunting bird recorded at 3300 m. Appears end March – early April in southern areas; last birds observed mid-May. In more northern areas, arrives mid – end April. Breeds in separate pairs, not closer than 2-3 km from each other. Nest is built on rock or tree (saxaul, Russian olive, Asiatic poplar, juniper, hawthorn or pine), not far from ground; from dry twigs, unlined, but often with some green twigs. Usually nest used for some years, birds repair it yearly. Clutches of one egg in mid-May – June; both parents incubate approximately 30 days. Chick hatches mid – end June, and fledges in July – August. Latest feeding of young bird observed 20 September 1949. Repetition after loss of first clutches is possible. Autumn migration begins end August – early September. At Chokpak Pass they mainly migrate second half September – early October. On 7 October 1967 29 birds counted. They fly singly or in small groups of three (one brood?), often with other soaring raptors. Last observed mid - end October. In northerly areas they disappear in September.

Races

Short-toed Snake-Eagle( Circaetus gallicus gallicus )

Circaetus gallicus gallicus Gmelin, 1788 Smaller race. Male wing length 520-552 (532), female 420-570 (539) mm. Nests on Mugodzhary ridge, in Central and possibly Northern Kazakhstan. One bird probably immature seen 16 July 2000 near Sary-Moin lake. Widespread on migration.

Short-toed Snake-Eagle( Circaetus gallicus heptneri )

Circaetus gallicus heptneri Dementiev, 1932 Larger race. Male wing length 542-585 (552), female 561-605 (589) mm. Nests in south Kazakhstan from Mangyshlak up to Dzhungarskiy Alatau, in foothills of Narymskiy ridge on Southern Altai. In 1990 nested on south-western spurs of Monrak ridge and seen in summer at Kalbinskiy Altai. It also breeds on Ile valley, in Taukum desert and Zhusandala. Observed here on migration.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.