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Difference between revisions of "Crested Serpent Eagle" - BirdForum Opus

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:<small>'''Spilornis minimus''''' redirects here. For the species '''Nicobar Serpent Eagle''', see '''''[[Nicobar Serpent Eagle|Spilornis klossi]]'''''.''</small>
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'''Spilornis minimus''''' redirects here. For the species '''Nicobar Serpent Eagle''', see '''''[[Nicobar Serpent Eagle|Spilornis klossi]]'''''.''
 
[[Image:Crested_Serpent_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Yeshey+Dorji|Yeshey Dorji}} <br />Dakpai, Zhemgang, central [[Bhutan]], September 2004]]
 
[[Image:Crested_Serpent_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Yeshey+Dorji|Yeshey Dorji}} <br />Dakpai, Zhemgang, central [[Bhutan]], September 2004]]
 
;[[:Category:Spilornis|Spilornis]] cheela
 
;[[:Category:Spilornis|Spilornis]] cheela
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*Pale brown underparts and underwing coverts
 
*Pale brown underparts and underwing coverts
 
*Appears large-headed and owl-like due to face s hape and position of eyes
 
*Appears large-headed and owl-like due to face s hape and position of eyes
 +
[[Image:Crested Serpent Eagle 5.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Subspecies ''spilogaster'' <br />Photo by {{user|Steve G|Steve G}}<br />[[Minneriya National Park]], [[Sri Lanka]], August 2009]]
 
====Flight====
 
====Flight====
 
*Shallow dihedral in soaring flight
 
*Shallow dihedral in soaring flight
 
*Tail and flight feathers black with broad white stripes
 
*Tail and flight feathers black with broad white stripes
[[Image:44497Ryukyu-Serpent-Eagle.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''perplexus'' <br /> Photo by {{user|MANDA|MANDA}} <br />Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, [[Japan]], March 2005]]
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Southern [[Asia]]. Widespread and generally common from northern [[India]] south to [[Sri Lanka]] east to southern [[China]], [[Hainan]], [[Taiwan]] and the southern [[Ryukyu Islands]] and south to the [[Andaman Islands]] and [[Malay Peninsula]].  Also breeds on [[Palawan]], [[Borneo]], [[Sumatra]], [[Java]] and many smaller islands.
 
Southern [[Asia]]. Widespread and generally common from northern [[India]] south to [[Sri Lanka]] east to southern [[China]], [[Hainan]], [[Taiwan]] and the southern [[Ryukyu Islands]] and south to the [[Andaman Islands]] and [[Malay Peninsula]].  Also breeds on [[Palawan]], [[Borneo]], [[Sumatra]], [[Java]] and many smaller islands.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
About 20 subspecies are currently recognised, some of which may be deserving of full species status.
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====Subspecies====
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About 20 subspecies are currently recognised, some of which may be deserving of full species status<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
  
Nominate race is found in northern [[India]]<br />
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Nominate race is found in northern [[India]]
''melanotis'' in southern [[India]]<br />
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*''melanotis'' in southern [[India]]
''spilogaster'' in [[Sri Lanka]] and ''davisoni'' in the [[Andaman Islands]]<br />
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*''spilogaster'' in [[Sri Lanka]] and ''davisoni'' in the [[Andaman Islands]]
''S. c. burmanicus'' occurs from [[Burma]] to central and southern [[Indochina]]<br />
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*''S. c. burmanicus'' occurs from [[Burma]] to central and southern [[Indochina]]
''ricketti'' in south-east [[China]] and northern [[Indochina]]<br />
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*''ricketti'' in south-east [[China]] and northern [[Indochina]]
''rutherfordi'' on Hainan<br />
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*''rutherfordi'' on Hainan
''hoya'' on [[Taiwan]] <br />
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*''hoya'' on [[Taiwan]]  
''perplexus'' in the southern Ryukyu Islands.
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*''perplexus'' in the southern Ryukyu Islands.
  
Further south race ''malayensis'' is found in southern [[Burma]], [[Malaysia]] and northern [[Sumatra]]<br />
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Further south race ''malayensis'' is found in southern [[Burma]], [[Malaysia]] and northern [[Sumatra]]
''batu'' on Batu Island and southern [[Sumatra]]<br />
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[[Image:44497Ryukyu-Serpent-Eagle.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''perplexus'' <br /> Photo by {{user|MANDA|MANDA}} <br />Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, [[Japan]], March 2005]]
''sipora'' on the Mentawi Islands and Sipora<br />
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*''batu'' on Batu Island and southern [[Sumatra]]
''bido'' on [[Java]] and [[Bali]]<br />
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*''sipora'' on the Mentawi Islands and Sipora
''baweanus'' on Bawean Island<br />
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*''bido'' on [[Java]] and [[Bali]]
''pallidus'' on [[Borneo]]<br />
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*''baweanus'' on Bawean Island
''natunensis'' on Bunguran and Billiton Islands<br />
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*''pallidus'' on [[Borneo]]
''asturinus'' on Nias<br />
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*''natunensis'' on Bunguran and Billiton Islands
''abbottii'' on Simalur<br />
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*''asturinus'' on Nias
''palawanensis'' on Palawan, Balabac and the Calamian Islands<br />
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*''abbottii'' on Simalur
 +
*''palawanensis'' on Palawan, Balabac and the Calamian Islands
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Forest and forest edge, riverine woodland, farmland and sometimes near villages. Occurs up to 3,000m in the Himalayas.
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Forest and forest edge, riverine woodland, farmland and sometimes near villages. Occurs up to 3,000m in the [[Himalayas]].
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
The Crested Serpent Eagle, as its English and scientific names suggest, is a specialist reptile eater which hunts over woodland for snakes and lizards.
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====Diet====
 +
They specialise in reptiles hunting over woodland for snakes and lizards.
 +
==References==
 +
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}
 +
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Spilornis+cheela}}  
 
{{GSearch|Spilornis+cheela}}  
  
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Spilornis]]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Spilornis]]

Revision as of 22:14, 27 August 2011

Spilornis minimus redirects here. For the species Nicobar Serpent Eagle, see Spilornis klossi.

Photo by Yeshey Dorji
Dakpai, Zhemgang, central Bhutan, September 2004
Spilornis cheela

Identification

Medium large raptor about 55-75cm in length.
Adult

  • Dark brown upperparts and head
    • Hooded appearance at rest
  • Pale brown underparts and underwing coverts
  • Appears large-headed and owl-like due to face s hape and position of eyes
Subspecies spilogaster
Photo by G Steve G
Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka, August 2009

Flight

  • Shallow dihedral in soaring flight
  • Tail and flight feathers black with broad white stripes

Distribution

Southern Asia. Widespread and generally common from northern India south to Sri Lanka east to southern China, Hainan, Taiwan and the southern Ryukyu Islands and south to the Andaman Islands and Malay Peninsula. Also breeds on Palawan, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and many smaller islands.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

About 20 subspecies are currently recognised, some of which may be deserving of full species status[1].

Nominate race is found in northern India

Further south race malayensis is found in southern Burma, Malaysia and northern Sumatra

Subspecies perplexus
Photo by MANDA
Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, March 2005
  • batu on Batu Island and southern Sumatra
  • sipora on the Mentawi Islands and Sipora
  • bido on Java and Bali
  • baweanus on Bawean Island
  • pallidus on Borneo
  • natunensis on Bunguran and Billiton Islands
  • asturinus on Nias
  • abbottii on Simalur
  • palawanensis on Palawan, Balabac and the Calamian Islands

Habitat

Forest and forest edge, riverine woodland, farmland and sometimes near villages. Occurs up to 3,000m in the Himalayas.

Behaviour

Diet

They specialise in reptiles hunting over woodland for snakes and lizards.

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist

Recommended Citation

External Links

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