Editing Circaetinae (section)

{{Short description|Subfamily of birds}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{automatic taxobox
| name = Snake eagles
| image = Pithecophaga jefferyi front.jpg
| image_caption = [[Philippine eagle]] (''Pithecophaga jefferyi'')
| taxon = Circaetinae
| authority = [[Edward Blyth|Blyth]], 1851
| type_genus = ''[[Circaetus]]''
| type_genus_authority = [[Louis Pierre Vieillot|Vieillot]], 1816
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = See text.
}}

'''Circaetinae''' is a [[subfamily]] of the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Accipitridae]] which contains a group of medium to large broad-winged [[birds of prey]].<ref>{{cite journal  |last1=Lerner |first1=Heather R.L. |last2=Mindell |first2=David P. |title=Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA |year=2005 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=327–346  |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010|pmid=15925523 |bibcode=2005MolPE..37..327L }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mindell |first1=David P. |last2=Fuchs |first2=Jérôme |last3=Johnson |first3=Jeff A. |chapter=Phylogeny, taxonomy, and geographic diversity of diurnal raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes |title=Birds of Prey |year=2018  |pages=3–32 |isbn=978-3-319-73744-7 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-73745-4_1 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326086278}}</ref> The group is sometimes treated as tribe Circaetini.<ref>{{cite book |editor-first1=Dickinson |editor-last1=Edward C. |editor-first2= James V. |editor-last2=Remsen Jr. |title=The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World |volume=((1: Non-passerines)) |edition=4th |year=2013 |url=http://www.nhbs.com/the-howard-and-moore-complete-checklist-of-the-birds-of-the-world-volume-1-book |publisher=Aves Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ACCIPITRIDAE - Kites, Hawks and Eagles |url=https://www.aviansystematics.org/checklist?viewfamilies=36 |website=Trust for Avian Systematics |access-date=27 March 2024 }}</ref> These [[bird]]s mainly specialise in feeding on snakes and other reptiles, which is the reason most are referred to as "snake-eagles" or "serpent-eagles". The exceptions are the [[bateleur]], a more generalised hunter, and the [[Philippine eagle]], which preys on mammals and birds.

All but one of the subfamily are restricted to warmer parts of the [[Old World]]: ''Spilornis'' and ''Pithecophaga'' in south Asia, the others in Africa. The short-toed eagle ''Circaetus gallicus'' migrates between temperate Eurasia and Africa, as well as being resident in India.

They have hooked [[beak]]s for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs and powerful [[Talon (anatomy)|talons]]. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable them to spot potential [[prey]] from a distance.