Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis Cheela 5 Short-Toed Snake Eagle Circaetus Gallicus

Home , Circaetus, Crested serpent eagle, Spilornis

• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Serpent Eagles found in India

• To know more on these birds you can visit http://ogaclicks.com/eagles/

• If you are interested in Coming on any of my tours or workshops please share your email id. I will keep you updated

• You can also call me on (91)9840119078 , (91) 9445219078 (91) 6369815812 ©www.ogaclicks.com CharacterisedHookedby Beak, Talons requiredabilities Flying and to& kill hunt prey Derivedfrom Latinword RaptorsAny: of numerousof carnivorous birds thatkilland other hunt

rapere

: To: ravish Raptors at a glance

animals Steppe

Tawny

    ReptilesEspl Snakes)( arepreferred prey eyesSharp eagles Smallwith &very snakeagile hunters unfeatheredto protectfrom them Snake bites Serpent more overall) Eagles are birdsprey of Trailing edgeis slightlycurved outside Eagles are Eaglepart of family characterisedby Leading edgeLeading slightlycurved is inside

vertebrate

largeto hunt sizeable enough 50 (about prey

Serpent

Eagles Prominent“wrist”

Shorter tail

scaly legsthat are

cm long or cm

©www.ogaclicks.com Steppe (primaries) Fingers

List of Serpent Eagles found in India

Sno. Name Binomial Name 1 Andaman Serpent Eagle Spilornis elgini 2 Central Nicobar Serpent Eagle Spilornis minimus 3 Great Nicobar Serpent Eagle Spilornis klossi 4 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 5 Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus

©www.ogaclicks.com Serpent Eagles Height Comparison

Series 1

70 cm 65 cm

55 cm

48 cm

44 cm

agle

toed snake Eagle snake toed

Crested Serpent Eagle Serpent Crested

Short Andaman Andaman Serpent

Central Nicobar Serpent Serpent Nicobar Central Serpent Nicobar Great

©www.ogaclicks.com ANDAMAN & NICOBAR SERPENT EAGLE Andaman Serpent Eagle Identification Tips Andaman Serpent Eagle : Spilornis elgini : Resident of Andaman

Black and white fan-shaped nuchal crest

Grey bill with yellow cere

Upperparts with multiple spots Underparts with multiple white spots

Tail with multiple Legs are yellow black band with black claws

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Central Nicobar Serpent Eagle Identification Tips Andaman Serpent Eagle : Spilornis minimus: Resident of Central Nicobar Islands

Black and white fan-shaped nuchal crest

Grey bill with yellow cere

Breast & throat with very less spots Upperparts are brown

Underparts heavily spotted with white spots

Legs are yellow with black claws Tail with alternate pale & black band ( 2 sets)

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Great Nicobar Serpent Eagle Identification Tips Andaman Serpent Eagle : Spilornis klossi: Resident of Great Nicobar Islands

Black nuchal crest without spots

Grey bill with yellow cere

Upperparts are brown

Unspotted off white underparts

Legs are yellow with black claws

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Tail with alternate pale & black band ( 2 sets) ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com CRESTED SERPENT EAGLE Crested Serpent Eagle Identification Tips : Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle : Spilornis cheela: Wide spread Resident in India ( Except North West & North East India ) White head with black streaks

Black patch on face Black bill with yellow cere

Brown Throat & breast upperparts with Buff-white white streaks streaked brown

Buff underparts

Legs are yellow Two black with black claws band on white tail

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Crested Serpent Eagle Identification Tips : Adult Crested Serpent Eagle : Spilornis cheela: Wide spread Resident in India ( Except North West & North East India )

Black and white fan- shaped nuchal crest

Brown underparts spotted with white & Brown yellowish-brown upperparts

Legs are yellow with black claws

Brown flight feathers with black Edges

Black bands on tail

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Crested Serpent Eagle Identification Tips : Face Crested Serpent Eagle : Spilornis cheela: Wide spread Resident in India ( Except North West & North East India )

Iris is yellow, black eyering

Grey/Black beak with yellow cere

Thin yellow gape, ending before the centre of eyes

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Crested Serpent Eagle Identification Tips : Flight Crested Serpent Eagle : Spilornis cheela: Wide spread Resident in India ( Except North West & North East India ) Spotted brown scapulars 7 fingers

Flight feathers with Broad black band at edges White flight feathers with Broad black band at edges

Brown under wing coverts with white spots Tail feathers with two Broad black bands with white band in between them

Tail feathers with two Broad black bands

Pale Under wings ( Secondaries) Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Important id point Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com SHORT-TOED SNAKE EAGLE Short-toed Snake Eagle Identification Tips Short-toed Snake Eagle : Circaetus gallicus: Wide spread resident in India ( Except South East India )

Grey Head

Grey face Owl like face

White throat & breast with brown Brown upperparts streaks

White underparts

Brown Wings

Yellow to Grey legs with black talons

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Short-toed Snake Eagle Identification Tips : face Short-toed Snake Eagle : Circaetus gallicus: Wide spread resident in India ( Except South East India )

Yellow Iris

Grey/horn beak with grey cere

Thin grey gape, ending before the centre of eyes

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett www.HBW.com Short-toed Snake Eagle Identification- Flight Short-toed Snake Eagle : Circaetus gallicus: Wide spread resident in India ( Except South East India )

4 fingers

Light brown median coverts 2 Brown White median & bands lesser coverts with brown streaks White underwing edged brown at Dark brown end flight feathers

White tail 4 fingers

Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com www.HBW.com Serpent Eagle Identification at a glance

Name Distribution Crest Upperparts Underparts Tail Andaman Andaman Brown /Black Brown with Heavily Spotted Tail with Serpent Eagle Islands with spots spots Throat & Breast multiple black band

Central Nicobar Nicobar Black and white Brown with Heavily spotted Tail with Serpent Eagle Islands fan-shaped spots from Belly alternate pale & downwards black band ( 2 sets)

Great Nicobar Great Nicobar Black nuchal crest Uniform brown White with Tail with Serpent Eagle Islands without spots brown suffusion , alternate pale & No spots at all black band ( 2 sets)

Crested Serpent Main land Black and white Uniform brown Brown Black bands on Eagle India fan-shaped underparts brown tail spotted with white & yellowish-brown