Historical record: This record was not submitted by observers. It was compiled and made available here as part of the Bird Society of Singapore's effort to make historical records more easily accessible. Click here to read more about this initiative.
| Species | Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 1976 |
| Date | 21 Sep 2014 |
| Location | Japanese Gardens |
| Count | 1 individual |
| Subspecies | burmanicus |
| Date added | 10 Dec 2023 |
This record has not been accepted by the Records Committee. For more details, see below.
| Background |
|---|
| Quoting the NSS blog: "This was where a Crested Serpent Eagle was photographed on 21st. There were reports of earlier sightings of this Eagle. Chaiyan later pointed out that this particular eagle was the burmanicus and not the malayensis race. It is larger, more rufous than black. Could most of our previous record of this eagle been this race and not the Malaysian resident?".
We cannot find conclusive evidence that this individual is a burmanicus (see more photos in links). It is likely to be an immature malayensis (presence of white feathers on head). Moreover, burmanicus should not be expected in Singapore in September if it is indeed a migrant here. The bird's plumage is within perfectly acceptable variation of malayensis. |
| Verdict | Not accepted (Verifiable) |
|---|
Bird Society of Singapore. (2023). Record 1976: Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela. Retrieved August 23, 2025, from https://records.singaporebirds.com/record/1976/.