(Flight photo ssp perplexus) |
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:<small>'''Spilornis minimus''''' redirects here. For the species '''Nicobar Serpent Eagle''', see '''''[[Nicobar Serpent Eagle|Spilornis klossi]]'''''.''</small> | :<small>'''Spilornis minimus''''' redirects here. For the species '''Nicobar Serpent Eagle''', see '''''[[Nicobar Serpent Eagle|Spilornis klossi]]'''''.''</small> | ||
| + | [[Image:Crested_Serpent_Eagle.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Yeshey+Dorji|Yeshey Dorji}} <br />]] | ||
;[[:Category:Spilornis|Spilornis]] cheela | ;[[:Category:Spilornis|Spilornis]] cheela | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | Medium large raptor about 55-75cm in length. | + | Medium large raptor about 55-75cm in length. <br /> |
| − | + | '''Adult''' | |
*Dark brown upperparts and head | *Dark brown upperparts and head | ||
**Hooded appearance at rest | **Hooded appearance at rest | ||
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*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. Nominate race is found in northern India | + | About 20 subspecies are currently recognised, some of which may be deserving of full species status. |
| + | |||
| + | Nominate race is found in northern [[India]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''melanotis'' in southern [[India]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''spilogaster'' in [[Sri Lanka]] and ''davisoni'' in the [[Andaman Islands]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''S. c. burmanicus'' occurs from [[Burma]] to central and southern [[Indochina]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''ricketti'' in south-east [[China]] and northern [[Indochina]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''rutherfordi'' on Hainan<br /> | ||
| + | ''hoya'' on [[Taiwan]] <br /> | ||
| + | ''perplexus'' in the southern Ryukyu Islands. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Further south race ''malayensis'' is found in southern [[Burma]], [[Malaysia]] and northern [[Sumatra]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''batu'' on Batu Island and southern [[Sumatra]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''sipora'' on the Mentawi Islands and Sipora<br /> | ||
| + | ''bido'' on [[Java]] and [[Bali]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''baweanus'' on Bawean Island<br /> | ||
| + | ''pallidus'' on [[Borneo]]<br /> | ||
| + | ''natunensis'' on Bunguran and Billiton Islands<br /> | ||
| + | ''asturinus'' on Nias<br /> | ||
| + | ''abbottii'' on Simalur<br /> | ||
| + | ''palawanensis'' on Palawan, Balabac and the Calamian Islands<br /> | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Forest and forest edge, riverine woodland, farmland and sometimes near villages. Occurs up to 3,000m in the Himalayas. | Forest and forest edge, riverine woodland, farmland and sometimes near villages. Occurs up to 3,000m in the Himalayas. | ||
Revision as of 22:12, 24 September 2009
- Spilornis minimus redirects here. For the species Nicobar Serpent Eagle, see Spilornis klossi.
- 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
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
About 20 subspecies are currently recognised, some of which may be deserving of full species status.
Nominate race is found in northern India
melanotis in southern India
spilogaster in Sri Lanka and davisoni in the Andaman Islands
S. c. burmanicus occurs from Burma to central and southern Indochina
ricketti in south-east China and northern Indochina
rutherfordi on Hainan
hoya on Taiwan
perplexus in the southern Ryukyu Islands.
Further south race malayensis is found in southern Burma, Malaysia and northern Sumatra
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
The Crested Serpent Eagle, as its English and scientific names suggest, is a specialist reptile eater which hunts over woodland for snakes and lizards.
