Circaetus gallicus -- (Gmelin, 1788) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- -- Common names: Short-toed -; Short-toed Eagle; Short-toed Snake Eagle European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Estonia; France; Georgia; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Montenegro; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Austria; Belgium; Cyprus; Denmark; Finland; Germany; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Canary Is. (to ES); Sweden; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 17,600-20,900 pairs, which equates to 35,100-41,800 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 14,800-16,600 pairs, which equates to 29,500-33,100 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology breeding in the Palearctic are migratory. Most migrants winter in tropical North (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Orta and Kirwan 2013), with small numbers staying in southern Europe (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Migrants move south between August and November, and north between February and May (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Birds are usually observed singly or in pairs, even on migration, though migrants will sometimes form groups of up to 12 (Snow and Perrins 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). They soar at c.20–100 m above the ground (Brown et al. 1982). It uses a variety of habitats within warm temperate and tropical environments, and is recorded up to 1,200 m. It specialises in feeding on , particularly . The nest is almost always built in low trees, usually on the crown and is constructed of sticks and twigs, and lined with green leaves or grass, occasionally even pine needles. Usually only a single egg is laid (Orta and Kirwan 2013). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Forest - Temperate major breeding Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical Dry major breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable breeding Altitude 0-1200 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats Changes in agriculture and land use have reduced the extent of suitable hunting habitat. In addition snake populations have been reduced by increased cultivation of monocultures, hedge destruction, use of pesticides and the abandonment of traditional farmland and subsequent afforestation. Habitat fragmentation has resulted from forest fires and road construction. The species is often shot and nests destroyed and it suffers mortality from powerlines (Tucker and Heath 1994). It is also very highly vulnerable to the effects of potential wind energy development (Strix 2012). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact (persecution/ Declines control) Stresses Species mortality Energy production Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact & mining Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Unknown Unknown Stresses Ecosystem degradation; Species mortality Natural system Increase in fire Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications frequency/intensity Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion Pollution Herbicides and Timing Scope Severity Impact pesticides Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Indirect ecosystem effects Transportation & Roads & railroads Timing Scope Severity Impact service corridors Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Species mortality Transportation & Utility & service Timing Scope Severity Impact service corridors lines Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Species mortality Conservation Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. The species is legally protected in almost all countries within its range (Tucker and Heath 1994). It is listed in the Red Data Books for the Moscow region and the Russian Federation (Kalyakin and Voltzit 2006) and is listed as vulnerable in Croatia (Radovíc et al. 2003).

Conservation Actions Proposed Wide-scale habitat conservation measures are required, including the maintenance of low-intensity farming with the preservation of hedges and a reduction of pesticide use. Appropriate management of woodlands should maintain old trees, prevent fires and limit road construction. Education campaigns aimed at hunting organisations should be undertaken to limit illegal shooting. Powerlines should be flagged, moved or buried to reduce collisions, particularly in important areas. Species monitoring should be maintained and improved (Tucker and Heath 1994). Bibliography Brown, L. H.; Urban, E. K.; Newman, K. 1982. The birds of Africa vol I. Academic Press, London Ferguson-Lees, J.; Christie, D. A. 2001. Raptors of the world. Christopher Helm, London. Hagemeijer, W.J.M. & Blair, M.J. (1997) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London. Kalyakin, M. V., & Voltzit, O. V. (2006). Atlas. Birds of Moscow City and the Moscow Region. Pensoft, Sofia–Moscow. Orta, J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2013). Short-toed Snake-eagle (Circaetus gallicus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2013). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53006 on 12 March 2015). Radovic, D., J. Kralj, V. Tituš, and D. Cikovic. 2003. [Red Data Book of birds of Croatia]. Ministarstvo zastite okolisa i prostornog uredenja, Zagreb, Croatia. (In Croatian with English summary) Snow, D. W.; Perrins, C. M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Strix. 2012. Developing and testing the methodology for assessing and mapping the sensitivity of migratory birds to wind energy development. BirdLife International, Cambridge. Tucker, G.M. & Heath, M.F. (1994) Birds in Europe: their conservation status. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International (BirdLife Conservation Series no. 3). Map (see overleaf)