- Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Identification
62-80cm. Female larger.
White underside with fine blackish stripes, dark grey upperparts with a blackish, brownish or bluish hue, ash-grey-and-white zone on wings, short black tail. Female - reddish-cinnamon hue to the upper- and underwing secondaries.
Immature - deep brown upperparts, no light wing patch, white or light buff underparts, heavy dark streaks on breast, dark bars on belly and thighs. It does not acquire the full adult plumage until 4-5 years old.
Distribution
Taxonomy
There are 2 subspecies:
- G m australis - NW Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, W Argentina to Tierra del Fuego; smaller, white with fine dark barring below.
Habitat
Mountainous or hilly terrain with sparse vegetation, shrubland or forest.
Behaviour
The diet includes mid-sized mammals and birds.
It nests in high trees or on rocky cliffs. The nest is a huge mass of sticks. 1-3 eggs are laid and incubated for 28 days.



