Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle Spilornis rufipectus Scientific name definitions

41–54 cm; wingspan 105–120 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Medium-sized serpent-eagle; similar to S. cheela, especially in being vocal and conspicuous, but has completely dark hood, with barred belly and flanks , and rather narrow pale bar in tail. Sexes alike, but female averages larger (5–15%) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile very different in having dark mask but otherwise pale creamy head with black streaks, dark brown upperparts blotched creamy, brown-streaked whitish underparts, and narrower tailbands (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Bare parts: iris bright yellow (grey in juvenile), facial skin also bright yellow (greenish yellow in juvenile) and legs dull yellow (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Race sulaensis generally smaller and paler than nominate, with bolder barring on underparts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Forest edge and openings (including rice fields) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), coconut groves, wooded gardens (2 Indrawan, M., S. Somadikarta, J. Supriatna, M. D. Bruce, Sunarto, and G. Djanubudiman (2006). The birds of the Togian Islands, central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Forktail 22:7–22. Close ), secondary forest and grassy savannas, from sea-level (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) to 1000 m.

Apparently sedentary, although it has been suggested that juvenile dispersal could reach adjacent islands (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Virtually nothing known, although recorded prey items include lizards, small snakes and rodents (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); overall diet and habits most likely similar to S. cheela. Readily attracted to grass fires; often forages over open grassland.

Gives a repeated “keek” or “kek”, and “fli-wi-keek”, probably mainly during display-flights, but no other information concerning contexts (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Fledged young in May; laying estimated to take place in Jan–Feb. Singles or pairs engage in high-circling flights, accompanied by much vocalizing (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). No further information available.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Widespread and common, e.g. in Dumoga Bone National Park (N Sulawesi). Occurrence and foraging in open grassland and secondary forest suggest species able to tolerate certain degree of habitat alteration.