Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) is a big bulky eagle with large head often showing a thick rear neck crest. It is a dark brown bird. Its pale bill is large and lores and cere are yellow. It has a white bar across its tail visible in flight. The bird is a scarce winter visitor. It is about 30 inches in length.
Diet primarily consists of reptiles, tree snakes and lizards. It also consumes dead snakes, small mammals and rarely birds.
The bird can be spotted in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Orissa.
