Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
Etymology:
- Spilornis : Greek word spilos spot; ornis
- Cheela : Hindi name “ Cheel” for Hawk or Kite
Sub species
- Melanotis: Greek Word melas black; otis –eared { Black Eared)
- Davisoni- William Ruxton Davison (d. 1893) collector and Curator of Raffles Museum, Singapore
Vernacular Name: Hindi: Furj baaj, Dogra cheel, Pun: Mukatdar ukab, Ben: Tilaj baaj, Sabchur, Ass: Sin/Xen, Gond: Botta genda, Guj: Chotaliyo saanpmaar, Mar: Murayala, Ta: Kudumiyan, Te: Nalla pamula gadda, Mal: Chuttiparundu, Kan: Goom, Sinh: Rajaliya, Mar: Turewala Sarpagarud
Distribution in India: Widespread Resident, not found in North West of India.
Description: Size of 50–74 cm; 420–1800 g ; wingspan 109–169 cm. This medium-large, dark brown eagle is stocky, with rounded wings and a short tail. Its short black and white fan-shaped nuchal crest gives it a thick-necked appearance. The bare facial skin and feet are yellow. The powerful feet are unfeathered and heavily scaled for protection from snake bites. The underside is spotted with white and yellowish-brown. When the wing tips perched do not reach until the tail tip. In soaring flight, the broad and paddle-shaped wings are held in a shallow V. The tail and underside of the flight feathers are black with broad white bars. Both the sexes look similar. The juvenile is paler with black face patches and two pale tail bands. The powerful feet are unfeathered and heavily scaled for protection from snake bites
Races found in India
- S.c. melanotis- Peninsular India S from Gujarat and Gangetic Plain.
- S.c. davisoni- Andaman Islands ( Different from Spilornis elgini)
Habitat: It is found in wide variety of tropical and subtropical forest habitats, including dry to wet primary forest, riparian gallery forest, savanna, mangroves, degraded semi-open mixed forest, tea and teak plantations, and edges of cultivated areas and villages.
Food Habits: Its eats reptiles especially snakes. Also eats crabs, eels, frogs and birds. Hunts almost exclusively from exposed perch near open glade or along stream or forest edge; when foraging remains still for long periods while scanning for suitable prey items. Prey taken on ground or from trees, after short stoop, and consumed on ground or on elevated perch.
Breeding Habits: Breeds in Dec–Mar in South India and Feb–May in North India. Nests is lined with grass and green leaves and is built by pair above ground in large tree; often near clearing or stream. Sometimes breeds in old nests of other raptors. Spectacular display flights include mutual soaring, undulations and threat display, with wings bowed upwards and head and tail raised; all accompanied by loud vocalizations. It lays a clutch of one egg .The incubation period is 40 days by female only. The nestling period is 64 days. Hatchling are born altricial; both adults feed chick.