SBT thin films were etched at different content of $Cl_2$ in $Cl_2$/Ar or $Cl_2/N_2$(80%). As $Cl_2$ gas increased in $Cl_2$/Ar or $Cl_2/N_2$ gas plasma. the etch rate decreased. The result indicates that physical puttering of charged particles is dominant to chemical reaction in etching SBT thin films. To evaluate the etching mechanism of SBT thin films, x-ray photoelectron to chemical reaction in etching SBT thin films. To evaluate the etching mechanism of SBT thin films, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were carried out. From the result of AFM, the rms values of etched samples in Ar only or $Cl_2$ only plasma were higher than that of as-deposited, $Cl_2$/Ar and $Cl_2/N_2$ plasma. This can be illustrated by a decrease of Bi content of nonvolatile etching products (Sr-Cl and Ta-Cl), which are revealed by XPS and SIMS.