Spilornis


Spilornis is a genus of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. As adults all have dark crowns, and bright yellow eyes and cere. These medium-sized raptors are found in forests of southern Asia and are known as serpent-eagles, an English name shared with two African species from the genera Dryotriorchis and Eutriorchis.

Etymology

spilos "spot"; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos "bird".

Species

As traditionally defined, there are 6 species in this genus. It has been proposed that several small island populations, usually included in the Crested [Serpent Eagle], be split into separate species.