Photo: Anand Pendharkar / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Andaman Serpent Eagle
Spilornis elgini
Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 895 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Spilornis
- Species elgini
Quick facts
- Weight
- 895 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Andaman Serpent Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Andaman Serpent Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Andaman Is.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 895 g, with a wing length of about 36.5 cm and a tail of around 21.6 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4,981 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Andaman Serpent Eagle?
The Andaman Serpent Eagle is a large bird that weighs around 895 g.
Where does the Andaman Serpent Eagle live?
The Andaman Serpent Eagle is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Andaman Is, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Andaman Serpent Eagle belong to?
The Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Andaman Serpent Eagle eat?
The Andaman Serpent Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Andaman Serpent Eagle migrate?
The Andaman Serpent Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Andaman Serpent Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Andaman Serpent Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Andaman Serpent Eagle — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Andaman Serpent Eagle's range?
The Andaman Serpent Eagle has a mapped global range of about 4,981 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.