Photo: Yathin S Krishnappa / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela
Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 598 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Spilornis
- Species cheela
Quick facts
- Weight
- 598 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Crested 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 Crested Serpent Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 598 g, with a wing length of about 37.4 cm and a tail of around 23.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 6.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crested Serpent Eagle?
The Crested Serpent Eagle is a large bird that weighs around 598 g.
Where does the Crested Serpent Eagle live?
The Crested Serpent Eagle is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Crested Serpent Eagle belong to?
The Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Crested Serpent Eagle eat?
The Crested Serpent Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Crested Serpent Eagle migrate?
The Crested Serpent Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Crested Serpent Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Crested Serpent Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Crested Serpent Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Crested Serpent Eagle's range?
The Crested Serpent Eagle has a mapped global range of about 6.8 million 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.