Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)

 

An Adult Crested Serpent Eagle

The Crested Serpent Eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. Its presence ranges across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia.

A Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle 

This medium-large, dark brown eagle is broad and has a sturdy built, 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. 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.

A close up

The crested serpent eagle is a reptile eater which hunts over forests, often close to wet grassland, for snakes and lizards. It has also been observed to prey on birds, amphibians, mammals and fishes. It is found mainly over areas with thick vegetation both on the low hills and the plains.

The breeding season begins in late winter when they start courting and establishing territories. The eggs are laid in early summer. A study found that most nests were built along riverine trees. The nest is a large platform built high on a tree. Both birds in a pair build the nest but the female alone incubates. The usual clutch is one egg but two are sometimes laid and only a single chick is successfully raised in a season. When eggs are lost, a replacement is laid two to seven weeks later. The eggs hatch after about 41 days and the young fledge after about two months. Nests are defended by the parents.