Circaetinae

{{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 = Blyth, 1851

| type_genus = Circaetus

| type_genus_authority = Vieillot, 1816

| subdivision_ranks = Genera

| subdivision = See text.

}}

Circaetinae is a subfamily of the family Accipitridae which contains a group of medium to large broad-winged birds of prey.{{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 }}{{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}} The group is sometimes treated as tribe Circaetini.{{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 }}{{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 }} These birds 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 beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs and powerful talons. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable them to spot potential prey from a distance.