LC
Black-chested Snake-eagle Circaetus pectoralis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2021 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2013 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2006 Least Concern
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status nomadic Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass 1,500 g
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 13,900,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 14,300,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend stable - suspected -
Generation length 8.72 years - - -

Population justification: The species is described as scarce in some areas and common in others, and considering its wide range in eastern and southern Africa total numbers may exceed five figures (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001).

Trend justification: There is very little data on population size or trends for this species, however road surveys carried out in northern Botswana during 1991-1995 and 2015-2016 found a small but significant increase in the population (Garbett et al. 2018). Preliminary comparisons of results from the first and second South African Bird Atlas Project suggest that the range of the species may be shifting in this region (Underhill & Brooks 2014). In the absence of data from other parts of its range, and with no known significant threats, the population is suspected to be stable.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Angola extant native yes
Botswana extant native yes
Burundi extant native yes
Central African Republic extant native yes
Congo extant native yes
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the extant native yes
Eswatini extant native yes
Ethiopia extant native yes
Kenya extant native yes
Lesotho extant native yes
Malawi extant native yes
Mozambique extant native yes
Namibia extant native yes
Rwanda extant native yes
Somalia extant native yes
South Africa extant native yes yes
South Sudan extant native yes
Sudan extant native yes
Tanzania extant native yes
Uganda extant native yes
Zambia extant native yes
Zimbabwe extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Desert Hot suitable resident
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 3400 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Persecution/control Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Other options Other threat Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality
Transportation & service corridors Utility & service lines Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Black-chested Snake-eagle Circaetus pectoralis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/black-chested-snake-eagle-circaetus-pectoralis on 25/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 25/11/2024.