• Home
  • Search
  • About Us
  • Contact

Birds of the Philippines

Photos and videos of wild birds found in the Philippines. We travel all over the Philippines to document and take pictures of birds. Our goal is to make this site a resource of information and images about wild birds of the Philippines.

  1. Birds of the Philippines
  2. Kites, Hawks and Eagles

Philippine Serpent Eagle

PHILIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
Spilornis holospilus
Accipitridae Family

L 510mm (20") Wingspan 1070mm(42")

Bird #82 - December 2008

We first spotted one while we were on the road to Makiling Center for the Arts. We were not able to identify it because we couldn't get a photo. Then, later in the day, on the road on the way to the last resort, Tonji made a "prediction". He said that because the sun suddenly came out and it became quite hot, this would cause thermals, and so we could expect to see the raptor again. And he was right! We saw this one -- possibly a 2nd bird. The people by the side of the road were very helpful! They helped us spot it when it circled out of our view and then we were able to take a picture!

This raptor has a high pitched cry, "wee wee wee" .

One of the most common raptors probably next to the Brahminy Kite. Noisy and easy to spot. Usually noticed after hearing it call out.

It used to be called Crested Serpent Eagle but has since been split and is now called Philippine Serpent Eagle. The bird found in Palawan is the Crested Serpent Eagle.

Read More
PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
Subic, Zambales, Philippines
8 / 22

PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE Spilornis holospilus Subic, Zambales, Philippines

philippine serpent eagleserpent eaglebirdsubicresidentmay 20102010

  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
Subic, Zambales, Philippines
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • PHILIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
UP Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
UP Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
Subic, Zambales, Philippines
  • Untitled photo
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
Mt. Palay Palay, Cavite, Philippines
  • PHILIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
Makiling, Philippines

This individual has a band on its leg. It is probably one of the birds that was released from the Raptor Center in the Mt. Makiling Botanical Garden which closed this year due to lack of funds. A lot of people saw this bird on this same perch at Trees Hostel.
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
Makiling, Philippines
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
<i>Spilornis holospilus</i>
Makiling, Philippines

Those black spots are flies that were hovering around this bird. This could be a normal side-effect of the Eagle's meat diet. I asked the other WBCP members about this and Alex Tiongco said, " I  have noticed instances where birds of prey have flies hovering around them and I have always thought that it was because of  their diet - they have dried blood and specks of flesh stuck in their faces, neck feathers and talons." It would be nice to think that this released bird is feeding coping well with freedom!
  • PHIIPPINE SERPENT EAGLE
  • No Comments
Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites
  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.