Spilornis is a genus of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. As adults all have dark crowns, and bright yellow eyes and cere.[2] These medium-sized raptors are found in forests of southern Asia and are known as serpent-eagles; an English name shared with two African species from the genera Dryotriorchis and Eutriorchis.[2]
Spilornis | |
---|---|
Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Accipitriformes |
Family: | Accipitridae |
Subfamily: | Circaetinae |
Genus: | Spilornis G.R. Gray, 1840[1] |
Greek: σπιλος spilos "spot"; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos "bird".[3]
As traditionally defined, there are 6 species in this genus. It has been proposed that several small island populations, usually included in the Crested Serpent Eagle, be split into separate species.[2]
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Spilornis elgini | Andaman serpent eagle | Andaman Islands in southeast India. | |
Spilornis klossi | Great Nicobar serpent eagle | Indian island of Great Nicobar | |
Spilornis rufipectus | Sulawesi serpent eagle | Sulawesi in Indonesia | |
Spilornis cheela | Crested serpent eagle | across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia | |
Spilornis holospilus | Philippine serpent eagle | Philippines | |
Spilornis kinabaluensis | Mountain serpent eagle | northern Borneo |