This raptor ranges across Sulawesi and nearby islands. Males have a rufous chest and curled crest, and the species feeds mainly on snakes and lizards.
Males have a curled crest, rufous chest, and pale yellow bare skin around the eyes. Females have a whitish head and underparts with fine brown streaks.
It feeds mostly on reptiles such as snakes and lizards, catching prey on the ground. It sometimes takes small mammals and rarely birds.
IUCN Red List · Least Concern (LC) · Global