Congo Serpent Eagle

Overview

Congo Serpent Eagle (Circaetus spectabilis) is a species of Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) in the order Hawks, Eagles and Allies.

Scientific Classification

Genus: Circaetus; binomial: Circaetus spectabilis; authority: (Schlegel, 1863).

Distribution

Breeding range: Africa.

Conservation Status

This taxon is listed as Extant (living) in the IOC World Bird List.

Remarks

Restore Congo Serpent Eagle to Dryotriorchis from Circaetus based on phylogenetic analysis which indicates that merging Dryotriorchis into Circaetus would render the latter paraphyletic unless the highly distinctive Bateleur Terathopius is also included (Mindell et al. 2018; contra Lerner & Mindell 2005). Restore Congo Serpent Eagle to Circaetus from Dryotriorchis to resolve the paraphyly demonstrated in Lerner & Mindell (2005) and the more recent UCE phylogenetic analysis of Catanach et al. (2024).