Summary
Brown snake eagles (Circaetus cinereus) primarily feed on snakes, including venomous species. They are known to hunt a variety of snakes, such as tiger snakes, eastern brown snakes, ringed brown snakes, bandy-bandies, yellow-faced whipsnakes, red-bellied black snakes, and brown tree snakes. However, there is no direct evidence or scientific research indicating that they eat cats.
Do Brown Snake Eagles Eat Cats?
Image source: Brown snake eagle By Derek Keats
No, there is no direct evidence or scientific research indicating that brown snake eagles (Circaetus cinereus) eat cats. While hawks and other large birds of prey can and will attack cats, it is unclear whether brown snake eagles specifically target cats as prey.
Brown snake eagles primarily consume snakes, including venomous species. They are known to hunt a variety of snakes, such as:
- Tiger snakes
- Eastern brown snakes
- Ringed brown snakes
- Bandy-bandies
- Yellow-faced whipsnakes
- Red-bellied black snakes
- Brown tree snakes
However, there are no confirmed reports of brown snake eagles attacking pythons or crocodiles, possibly due to the formidable size of these reptiles.
Other Prey of Brown Snake Eagles
While brown snake eagles primarily consume snakes, they have been known to occasionally prey on other animals as well. For instance, they may attack lizards, including those as large as 6.3 kg (14 lb) on average adult lace monitors (Varanus varius). Insects, such as cicadas and beetles, also form a small percentage of their diet, particularly in the Northern Territory.
Potential Threats to Cats
While brown snake eagles do not appear to target cats as prey, other hawks and large birds of prey are known to attack and kill cats. In one case, a cat named Norton was startled and ran away when an eagle or hawk flew overhead, suggesting that large birds of prey might pose a threat to cats. However, it is unclear whether the bird would have actually attempted to attack or eat Norton, given his large size.
Conclusion
In summary, brown snake eagles primarily consume snakes, including venomous species, but there is no direct evidence to suggest that they eat cats. While hawks and other large birds of prey can and will attack cats, it is unclear whether brown snake eagles specifically target cats as prey. The primary diet of brown snake eagles consists of a variety of snake species, with occasional consumption of lizards and insects.
References:
- National Geographic, “Watch an Eagle Battle a Cobra in Dramatic New Video”, 2016-04-06.
- Wikipedia, “Wedge-tailed eagle”, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedge-tailed_eagle.
- Britannica, “Serpent eagle | bird”, www.britannica.com/animal/serpent-eagle.
- NJPB Forums, “Will eagles or hawks attack housecats?”, forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/will-eagles-or-hawks-attack-housecats.737/.
- WhatEats.com, “What Eats Snakes? What Do Snakes Eat?”, whateats.com/what-eats-snakes.
