Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)

Identification & Behavior: ~68 cm (26.7 in). The Adult Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle has bluish-gray head and breast. The rest of the upperparts are whitish. The juvenile can be brown or dusky brown with an intricate dusky pattern of barring, streaks, and spots. It goes through several intermediate plumages before attaining the adult plumage. It has broad and pointy wings and a short triangular tail more noticeable in adult birds. The juvenile is similar to the juvenile or dark morph Variable Hawk but is distinguished by larger size, broad and pointy wings, and relatively short and triangular tail.

Status: The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle is uncommon to fairly common in open Andean scrub. It generally ranges above the 1700-2000 m, but also descends to see levels, usually at “Coastal Lomas” and scrubby ravines. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Aguilucho de Pecho Negro.

Sub-species: Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus australis), Swann 1922.

Meaning of Name: Gr. geranos:crane and aetos= eagle. melanoleucus: L. melas, melanos= black and leukos= white.

See more of the Family Accipitridae