Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela
The Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a common kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 21 countries, weighing about 598 g. The crested serpent eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia.
About the Crested Serpent Eagle
The crested serpent eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. Within its widespread range across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia, there are considerable variations and some authorities prefer to treat several of its subspecies as completely separate species. In the past, several species including the Philippine serpent eagle, Andaman serpent eagle and South Nicobar serpent eagle were treated as subspecies of the crested serpent eagle. All members within the species complex have a large-looking head with long feathers on the back, giving them a maned and crested appearance. The face is bare and yellow joining up with…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This medium-large, dark brown eagle is stocky, with rounded wings and a short tail. Its short black and white fan-shaped nuchal crest gives it a thick-necked appearance. The bare facial skin and feet are yellow. The underside is spotted with white and yellowish-brown. When perched the wing tips do not reach until the tail tip. In soaring flight, the broad and paddle-shaped wings are held in a shallow V. The tail and underside of the flight feathers are black with broad white bars. Young birds show a lot of white on the head. The tarsus is unfeathered and covered by hexagonal scales.
What the Crested Serpent Eagle sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Pakistan.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Crested Serpent Eagle?
- This medium-large, dark brown eagle is stocky, with rounded wings and a short tail. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Crested Serpent Eagle?
- The Crested Serpent Eagle is a large sized bird weighing about 598 g.
- Where can you see a Crested Serpent Eagle?
- The Crested Serpent Eagle occurs in 21 countries, including India, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
- What does a Crested Serpent Eagle sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Crested Serpent Eagle on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Crested Serpent Eagle?
- The Crested Serpent Eagle is most easily confused with the Philippine Serpent Eagle, the Andaman Serpent Eagle and the Sulawesi Serpent Eagle.
- Is the Crested Serpent Eagle endangered?
- The Crested Serpent Eagle is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Crested Serpent Eagle for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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