The distribution of the Congo serpent eagle (orange)
Synonyms
Astur spectabilisSchlegel, 1863
Dryotriorchis batesiSharpe, 1904
Circaetus spectabilis
The Congo serpent eagle (Dryotriorchis spectabilis) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Dryotriorchis, although it was formerly placed in Circaetus. This species is distributed across the African tropical rainforest, including upper and lower Guinean forests. This serpent eagle specializes in hunting in these forests’ dark understories. It has two subspecies, the nominate subspecies Dryotriorchis spectabilis spectabilis and Dryotriorchis spectabilis batesi. Though monotypic, it appears to be very closely related to Circaetus. This hawk is a medium-sized bird with distinctive short, rounded wings and a long, rounded tail. It is varying shades of brown on its back and has a slight crest. Its breast is white with variable amounts of a rufous wash and, in the nominate subspecies, is covered in round, blackish spots. The subspecies D. s. batesi only has these dots on its flanks. The Congo serpent eagle closely resembles Cassin's hawk-eagle, and some ornithologists believe that this likeness is a rare example of avian mimicry. It is a very vocal raptor, and often is one of the most heard species in its habitat.
This serpent eagle feeds on snakes, chameleons, and toads, and hunts these species by dropping onto them from a perch in the understory. Its excellent eyesight enables it to hunt in the dark forest. Very little is known about its breeding habits, though it is suspected to breed from June to December. The Congo serpent eagle is listed as a species of Least Concern due to its large range and population. This species has been kept as a pet.
^BirdLife International (2012). "Dryotriorchis spectabilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.old-form url
^Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
and 24 Related for: Congo serpent eagle information
The Congoserpenteagle (Dryotriorchis spectabilis) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus...
The crested serpenteagle (Spilornis cheela) is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found in forested habitats across tropical Asia. Within its widespread...
The Philippine serpenteagle (Spilornis holospilus) is an eagle found in the major islands of the Philippines. It is sometimes treated as a race of the...
The Andaman serpenteagle (Spilornis elgini), also known as the Andaman dark-serpenteagle or the dark serpenteagle, is a medium-sized bird in the family...
The Madagascar serpenteagle (Eutriorchis astur) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is placed in the monotypic genus Eutriorchis...
The Great Nicobar serpenteagle (Spilornis klossi), also known as the South Nicobar serpenteagle, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae...
referred to as "snake-eagles" or "serpent-eagles". The exceptions are the bateleur, a more generalised hunter, and the Philippine eagle, which preys on mammals...
The mountain serpenteagle (Spilornis kinabaluensis), also known as the Kinabalu serpenteagle, is a bird of prey that is found in northern Borneo. It...
The Sulawesi serpenteagle (Spilornis rufipectus) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its...
Dryotriorchis Congoserpenteagle, D. spectabilis Genus Spilornis Crested serpenteagle, Spilornis cheela Central Nicobar serpenteagle, S. minimus (subspecies...
Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the monkey-eating eagle or great Philippine eagle, is a critically endangered species of eagle of the...
The brown snake eagle (Circaetus cinereus) is a fairly large species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in West, East and southern...
commonly called snake or serpenteagles, via a variety of genetic studies. Given the outward similarities of the bateleur to snake eagles, the relationship has...
banded snake eagle (Circaetus fasciolatus), also known as the East African snake eagle or fasciated snake eagle, is a species of snake eagle in the family...
The western banded snake eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) is a grey-brown African raptor with a short tail and a large head. Juveniles have paler and browner...
number of waterbird species whose distribution is confined to the Guinea-Congo Forests biome. List of Animals The Upper Orashi Forest Reserve is administered...
of three major orders of birds of prey and includes the osprey, hawks, eagles, kites, and vultures. Falcons (Falconiformes) and owls (Strigiformes) are...
Global Information
