Crested Serpent Eagle

Description:

is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. Within its widespread range, there are considerable variations and some authorities prefer to treat several of its subspecies as completely separate species. 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 underside is spotted with white and yellowish-brown. When perched the wing tips do not reach until the tail tip. The tail and underside of the flight feathers are black with broad white bars

Habitat:

Within its widespread range across tropical Asia, 21 populations have been named as subspecies.[2] The most widespread subspecies are the nominate from along the sub-Himalayan range in India

Notes:

The call is a distinctive Kluee-wip-wip with the first note being high and rising. The breeding season is mainly in winter to spring. The nest is a large platform built high on a tree. Both birds in a pair build the nest but the female alone incubates. The rarest of serpent ea gals is probably the Bawean Serpent Eagle with a declining population of about 26–37 pairs, which makes it critically endangered