- Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Identification
62-80cm. Female larger
- White underparts with fine blackish stripes
- Dark grey upperparts with a blackish, brownish or bluish hue
- Dark breast
- Ash-grey and white area on wings
- Short black tail
Female: rufous tint to both the upper and underwing secondaries
Immature: deep brown upperparts, lacks light wing patch; white or light buff underparts, heavy dark streaks on breast, dark bars on belly and thighs. Full adult plumage is acquired at 4-5 years old.
Distribution
South America: found in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
There are 2 subspecies:
- G. m. australis: smaller, white with fine dark barring below
- Andes of western Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego
- G. m. melanoleucus:
Habitat
A variety of habitats, in open and mountainous areas.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes mid-sized mammals and birds.
Breeding
The large stick nest is constructed in high trees or on rocky cliffs. The clutch of 1-3 eggs is incubated for 28 days.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Avibase
- AvianWeb
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 June 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Black-chested_Buzzard-Eagle


