Crested Serpent Eagle

Scientific Name: Spilornis cheela

Malay Name: Helang-Kuik Biasa

Chinese Name: 蛇雕

Range: Found from Indian subcontinent to southern China and Southeast Asia with some northern populations wintering south to Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: cheela, melanotis, spilogaster, burmanicus, ricketti, malayensis, davisoni, perplexus, hoya, rutherfordi, pallidus, richmondi, natunensis, sipora, batu, asturinus, abbotti, bido, baweanus, palawanensis, minimus.

Local Subspecies: malayensis

Size: 56-74 cm

Identification: Adult has mostly dark brownish plumage, black tail with broad white central band, prominent yellow cere, facial skin and eyes, short blackish crest and small whitish spots/bars on lower breasts and belly. Broad white band across underwing contrasting with broad black trailing edge very prominent when seen in flight from below. Juvenile resembles adult but has duller upperparts with whitish fringes and whitish underparts with dark streaks.

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, secondary growth, wooded area, mangroves, gardens and parks.

Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds primarily on reptiles like snakes, lizards and frogs.

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Malcolm Park, Bidadari, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Chinese Garden, Kent Ridge Park, Sungei Buloh, Sembawang, Springleaf and Pulau Ubin.

Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, May 2022, Jun 2022, Jul 2022, Aug 2022, Sep 2022, Oct 2022, Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Mar 2023, Apr 2023, May 2023, Jun 2023, Jul 2023, Aug 2023, Sep 2023, Oct 2023, Nov 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024, Feb 2024, Mar 2024

Crested Serpent Eagle at South Buona Vista. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Crested Serpent Eagle at Malcolm Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Crested Serpent Eagle at Malcolm Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Crested Serpent Eagle at Kent Ridge Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Crested Serpent Eagle at Japanese Garden. Photo Credit: Alan Ng
Crested Serpent Eagle at Japanese Garden. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Crested Serpent Eagle at Japanese Garden. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Crested Serpent Eagle at Japanese Garden. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Crested Serpent-Eagle)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Spilornis cheela. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695293A95221642.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Crested Serpent Eagle. Retrieved on May 8, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/crested-serpent-eagle.

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