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Short-toed Eagle

Scientific Name: Circaetus gallicus
Maltese Name: Ajkla Bajda
Family: Vultures, Eagles and Hawk (Accipitridae)
Occurence: Very Scarce
Breeds in Malta: No

Overview:
The Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) is one of the largest birds of prey that visits the Maltese Islands. Adults are 63–68 cm long with an 185–195 cm wingspan and weigh 1.7-1.9 kg. They can be recognised in the field by their predominantly white underside, the upper parts being greyish brown. The Short-toed Eagle is an accomplished flyer and spends more time on the wing than do most members of its genus. When quartering open country it frequently hovers like a Kestrel. Its prey is mostly reptiles, mainly snakes, but also some lizards. Sometimes they entangle with larger snakes and battle on the ground. The Short-toed Eagle has suffered a steep decline in numbers and range in Europe and is now rare and still decreasing in several countries due to changes in agriculture and land-use.

Status:
Very Scarce Autumn migrant. Mostly seen in singles form mid-September to mid-October. Some sightings also in ovember. 1-2 Sightings each Year. Very Rarely flocks of these birds are recorded. Latest flock was of 14, seen from Airport and Dwejra Malta on the 3rd of November 2006. Sadly, most of these birds were all shot.

When to See:
mid-September till early November.

Where to See:
Mostly recorded from Buskett and Dwejra during autumn raptor migration. Short-toed Eagles seem to prefer Dwejra as a hunting and roosting site.

Photographs:

Short-toed Eagle, 1st October 2010, Dwejra (Malta)


Short-toed Eagle, 26th September 2008, Buskett Short-toed Eagle, 4th October 2009, Buskett


Short-toed Eagle, 1st October 2010, Dwejra (Malta)


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