Crested Serpent Eagle
Crested Serpent EagleCrested Serpent EagleCrested Serpent EagleCrested Serpent Eagle

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Khangchendzonga National Park
20 Verified records at Khangchendzonga National Park
March Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. Within its widespread range across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia, there are considerable variations and some authorities prefer to treat several of its subspecies as completely separate species. In the past, several species including the Philippine serpent eagle (S. holospila), Andaman serpent eagle (S. elgini) and South Nicobar serpent eagle (S. klossi) were treated as subspecies of the crested serpent eagle. All members within the species complex have a large-looking head with long feathers on the back, giving them a maned and crested appearance. The face is bare and yellow joining up with the ceres while the powerful feet are unfeathered and heavily scaled. They fly over the forest canopy on broad wings and tail have wide white and black bars. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Serpent Eagle sighting in Khangchendzonga National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Khangchendzonga National Park

Mountain Hawk-Eagle
NT

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nisaetus nipalensis

10–20% · With luck
Himalayan Buzzard
LC

Himalayan Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo refectus

5–10% · With luck
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
LC

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Accipiter nisus

5–10% · With luck
Black Eagle

Black Eagle

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ictinaetus malayensis

5–10% · With luck
Himalayan Vulture
NT

Himalayan Vulture

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Gyps himalayensis

5–10% · Rare
Oriental Honey-buzzard
LC

Oriental Honey-buzzard

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pernis ptilorhynchus

<5% · Rare
Golden Eagle
LC Endemic

Golden Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila chrysaetos

Insufficient data
Upland Buzzard
LC

Upland Buzzard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buteo hemilasius

Insufficient data
Bearded Vulture
NT

Bearded Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gypaetus barbatus

Insufficient data
Rufous-bellied Eagle
NT

Rufous-bellied Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophotriorchis kienerii

Insufficient data
Hen Harrier
LC

Hen Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus cyaneus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
5–10
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
<5
Oct
5–10
Nov
<5
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
60–70%
2 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
60–70%
3 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
50–60%
4 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
40–50%
5 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
40–50%
6 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
40–50%
7 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
30–40%
8 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
9 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
10 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
11 Khao Luang National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
30–40%
12 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
30–40%
13 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
30–40%
14 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
30–40%
15 Sinharaja Forest Reserve 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
20–30%
16 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
20–30%
17 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
18 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
20–30%
19 Royal Manas National Park 🇧🇹 Bhutan
20–30%
20 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
20–30%
21 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
22 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
23 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
20–30%
24 Bali Barat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
20–30%
25 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
20–30%
26 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
20–30%
27 Eravikulam National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
28 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
20–30%
29 Cuc Phuong National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
10–20%
30 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
10–20%
31 Namdapha National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
32 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
10–20%
33 Khangchendzonga National Park 🇮🇳 India
5–10%
34 Way Kambas National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
5–10%
35 Ba Be National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
5–10%
36 Horton Plains National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
37 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
38 Kinabalu Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
39 Langtang National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Crested Serpent Eagle in Khangchendzonga National Park?

About 9% of wildlife watchers report a Crested Serpent Eagle sighting in Khangchendzonga National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Crested Serpent Eagle in Khangchendzonga National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Crested Serpent Eagle in Khangchendzonga National Park in our monthly data.

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