Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus / חיוואי נחשים

The Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) is a playable bird in Wingsy: Avian Adventures. Hangs in the wind over the fields on slow wingbeats, spots a viper far below and drops feet-first to pin it, then swallows it whole.

Short-toed Snake Eagle perched, the 3D model from the game — The 3D model. This is the same model you fly in the game. Drag to turn it.

Short-toed Snake Eagle gliding, the 3D model from the game — The 3D model. This is the same model you fly in the game. Drag to turn it.

Field notes

Scientific name	Circaetus gallicus
Hebrew name	חיוואי נחשים
Wingspan	1.85 m
Weight	1700 g
Top speed (in game)	65 km/h
Dive speed (in game)	140 km/h
Eats	vipers and geckos
Ancestral nest	Stick nest in a tall pine
Signature mechanic	Hover-hunting snakes
Movement	walks on the ground and can hover

How to play the Short-toed Snake Eagle

Hold T to kite on slow wingbeats and hang in the wind, then hold R to lock onto a snake or gecko far below. Press F or Space to drop feet-first onto it. Fly it by day, when the vipers are out.

R Focus Scan: Hold R while hovering or soaring to lock onto the nearest snake or gecko below, within 90 m. Press F/Space to strike.
T Kite: Hold T in flight to hang in the wind on slow wingbeats (drains stamina, much less in a good wind).
C Whistled Weeo: a clear whistled "weeo".

The real bird

The Short-toed Snake Eagle is a large, pale eagle that breeds in Israel in spring and migrates to Africa for the winter. It hunts almost only reptiles, above all snakes, which it spots from a hover over open fields and swallows head first, often whole.

The calls you hear in the game are real recordings from xeno-canto.org, credited in the game's sound credits.