IN THE KNOW: Philippine serpent eagle

The Philippine serpent eagle (Spilornis holospilus) is a relatively small raptor that lives in Luzon and Mindanao islands.

As its name suggests, this endemic bird eats snakes and lizards. It lives along forest edges, foothills and open country including cultivated areas.

Serpent eagles could grow to at least 47-53 centimeters tall with a wingspan of 105-120 cm.

Its color is brown from above and it has a short bushy chest, black crown and gray-brown cheeks and throat. The underparts are rufous with white spots, while its tail is black with a white tip, light-brown central band and a secondary basal band.

The primary feathers are also black and has white spotting along the wing coverts. The eyes, legs and lores are yellow.

Its distinctive call is described as a rising shrill whistle followed by a lower double “weep-weep.”

BirdLife International, a worldwide bird conservation group, reported that its population is declining due to habitat destruction. However, the decrease is not rapid to be classified as “vulnerable,” or its number declining over 30 percent in the last 10 years. Rafael Antonio, Inquirer Research

Sources: Birdlife.org and eagledirectory.org