CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE
(Spilornis Cheela R Kite+:74cm.) A prominent black
and white nuchal crest. Ocellated and finely
barred with black below. In flight white bar on
tail and on wings diagnostic. Well-wooded
country. Himalayan foothills and Gangetic Plain;
peninsular India; Sri Lanka.
1.
LOCAL NAMES: Furj baz, Dogra cheel (Hindi,
Saharanpur); Tilaj baj, Sabchur (Bengal); Sin
(Assam).
2.
SIZE:
Black Kite.
3.
FIELD CHARACTERS: A dark brown raptor with a
prominent black-and-white nuchal crest, very full
when erected. Underpants fulvous brown,
oscillated and finely barred with black and
white. In overhead flight a white bar across the
tail (which is seldom fanned out as in a true
eagle) and two similar bars on each of the broad
rounded wings, are suggestive clues. Sexes alike
singly, or pairs, soaring over wooded country with
peculiar shrill screaming calls.
4.
DISTRIBUTION: The better wooded parts
throughout the Indian Union up to about 2000 m in
the Himalayas; Pakistan; Sri Lanka; Myanmar.
Resident and locally migratory. Seven races
concern us, differing in size and coloration
details.
5.
HABITS: An inhabitant of well-watered country
and forested tracts, hill and plain. Keeps a look
outfox prey from a branch high up in some lofty
tree, preferably one commanding a clear view of
the surrounding country. Commonly seen in pairs
soaring in wide circles high up in the heavens,
calling.
6.
CALL: A penetrating high-pitched screaming
whistles have three or four notes kek-kek-kek-kee.
7.
FOOD: Frogs, lizards, rats, snakes, etc. Rarely
also takes junglefowl and peafowl.
-
NESTING: Season- overall December to March.
Nest- a large stick platform, lined with green
leaves, high up in a lofty forest tree,
preferably near streams or clearings. Egg-
Single, creamy or yellowish white boldly
blotched with reddish brown.
