Length:	51-71 cm.
Wingspan:	123-155 cm.
Weight:	0.42 kg -1.8 kg.

Crested serpent eagle

(Spilornis cheela)

Description:
The crested serpent eagle is a medium sized bird of prey living in forested habitats of tropical Asia. It is dark brown in color and the head appears quite large, with long feathers on the back, hence the name crested. The tail has wide white and black bars on it and the feet are very powerful, in order to keep hold of its prey.

Did you know...?

Crested serpent eagles are known to use thermal winds in the morning to help them rise into the air.

Diet:
As you can guess by its name, the serpent eagle likes to feed on snakes, but it also likes to consume other animals like reptiles, small mammals and birds. It likes to hunt over forests, close to wet grasslands.

Habitat:
The crested serpent eagle inhabits hills and plains; however it always needs thick vegetation to thrive. The habitats it favors include broadleaved evergreen forest, deciduous forests, peat swamps and secondary growth.

Reproduction:
Breeding season is in late winter, which is when the serpent eagle becomes territorial and starts building a nest. Both male and female help to construct the nest, which they will line with green leaves. Only one egg is incubated per breeding season. Even if the female lays two eggs, there will be only one chick that gets raised successfully. Incubation lasts for 41 days and is done only by the female.