Alternative name: Congo Snake-Eagle
- Dryotriorchis spectabilis
Circaetus spectabilis
Identification
54 – 60 cm
- Dark brown upperparts
- White underparts with spots and bars
- Black crown
- Rufous collar
- Light brown face
- Dark stripe across cheeks
- Dark streak down throat centre
- Long tail
- Short, hooked bill
Distribution
West and Central Africa: occurs from Sierra Leone and Liberia to Ghana and again from southern Nigeria east to western Uganda ranging south to Gabon (perhaps northern Angola) and central Zaire.
Taxonomy
Some authorities have this in genus Circaetus but another solution might be to keep this species where it is and split Circaetus into two genera. The Opus awaits developments.
Subspecies
Clements recognizes these subspecies[1]:
- D. s. spectabilis:
- Sierra Leone to Nigeria and north-western Cameroon
- D. s. batesi:
Habitat
Dense primary rainforest. Rarely seen due to secretive behaviour and poor light of its preferred habitat.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes chameleons, amphibians, and snakes.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, M. Smith, and C. L. Wood. 2024. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2024. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v 14.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.14.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- ARKive
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Congo Serpent Eagle. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 21 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Congo_Serpent_Eagle
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
