Short-toed Eagle
The short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus, Gmelin 1788) belongs to family Accipitridae and specifically to the subfamily Circaetinae.
This is one of the most rare species in Europe with about 5.900 – 14.000 couples. It mainly feeds on reptiles such as snakes and lizards thus its survival depends on their presence too. It migrates to subtropical Africa during winter. In Italy the short-toed eagle is back in March and nests with three main populations: Maremma Tosco-laziale, Liguria’s Appennines and West Alpes, the hill regions of the Adriatic and Ionian coast of Abruzzo, Campania and Calabria. The Monti Lattari’s dorsal is the best area for nesting in the province of Salerno for this particular species.
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Notes
Forsman D., 1998 - The Raptors of Europe and The Middle East. Poyser, London
Petretti F., 1988. Notes on the behaviour and ecology of the Short-toed Eagle in Italy. Le Gerfaut