Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
Order: CHARADRIIFORMES
Family: JACANIDAE Jacanas
Scientific name: Spilornis cheela
English name: Crested Serpent-Eagle
Characteristic: Size 51-71 cm. Upperpart is dark brown and underpart is reddish brown. Numerous round pale spots are seen scattering over its belly and wing bases. A long crest is present, dark brown in colour and barred with pale pattern.
Distribution: India, China, Hainan, Taiwan, the Andamans, the Nicobars, the Sundas, palawan, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia. In Thailand, it inhabits all forest types throughout the country.
Habitat: Dipterocarp forest, dry evergreen forest and secondary growth.
Habit: Mostly observed circling high above the forest canopy. Rarely seen perching on a tree top in exposed spots. Snakes are the main diet of this bird of prey. Other animals are also devoured, such as reptiles, birds, rodents, and large insects. Breeding season falls between May-June, when a pair will nest on a tree top a female lays only 1 egg.
Status: A common resident.
