Spilornis is a genus of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. As adults all have dark crowns, and bright yellow eyes and cere.[1] 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.[1]
σπιλος spilos "spot"; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos "bird".[2]
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.[1]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spilornis elgini | Andaman serpent eagle | Andaman Islands in southeast India. | |
| Spilornis klossi | Great Nicobar serpent eagle | Indian island of Great Nicobar | |
| Spilornis rufipectus | Sulawesi serpent eagle | Sulawesi in Indonesia | |
| Spilornis cheela | Crested serpent eagle | across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia | |
| Spilornis holospilus | Philippine serpent eagle | Philippines | |
| Spilornis kinabaluensis | Mountain serpent eagle | northern Borneo | |