Crested serpent eagle: Impressive resident seen in wooded areas such as Lions’ Centre

^{Crested serpent eagle at Lions’ Centre, Sai Kung}

Bird lovers who keep their eyes peeled will from time to time see the impressive crested serpent eagle. An alert resident photographed this handsome specimen at Sai Kung’s Lions’ Nature Education Centre.

The crested serpent eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey found in forested habitats around Asia. The birds have a big head with large feathers giving them a maned and crested appearance. The face is bare and yellow, the powerful feet unfeathered and heavily scaled. They fly over the forest with broad wings and tails with white and black bars. These birds are resident so watch carefully in wooded areas and sooner or later you will see one.

^{Photo: birdsoftheworld.org}

The serpent eagle preys on snakes — hence its name — lizards, grasshoppers, small mammals, fish and worms. Their call is a distinctive kluee-wip-wip, with the first note high and rising. When there is rising air, thermals, you may see a serpent eagle soaring. When alarmed, they erect the crest and the head is enlarged and framed by a ruff. They roost in the interiors of trees with dense foliage. A radio-metric survey found these birds spend most of the day perched, usually finding food in the mornings. They use a sit and weight foraging tactic.

In late winter they will start courting. Eggs are laid in early summer. The nest is a large platform built high in a tree. Both the male and female birds build the nest, then the female alone incubates as the male guards her.