Black Hawk-Eagle
Encyclopedia
The Black Hawk-Eagle also known as the
Tyrant Hawk-Eagle, is a species of eagle
found from central Mexico
to eastern Peru
, the south of Brazil
, and far northern Argentina
. Its preferred habitats include humid and moist forest
s close to river
s, and several types of woodland. It is uncommon to fairly common throughout most of its range. Its closest relative is the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, which is similar in size, appearance and behavior but lives at lower elevations.
The Black Hawk-Eagle is 58–70 cm (23–28 in) long and weighs about 900-1,300 grams (2-2.9 lbs). has black plumage
with varying patterns on its wings and body, and white speckling in places. It has barred wings, slightly elliptical in shape, and a long, narrow tail which is rarely fanned. The four grey bars on the tail are distinctive to the Black Hawk-Eagle, as is the white line seen slightly above the bird's eye.
While flying, the broadness and shortness of the wings become apparent. While in flight, the bird's tail is typically kept closed.
Though light and small compared to other eagle
s, this bird is a powerful predator that frequently hunts relatively large prey. It mainly eats large rodent
s, opossums and monkey
s, as well as, occasionally, bat
s and bird
s. Its popular name in Brazil is "Gavião-pega-macaco", which means "monkey-catching hawk". The birds it takes can be quite large, such as toucans,and chachalaca
s. The dietary habits of the Black Hawk-Eagle, however, remain largely unknown, with no known comprehensive list of prey species.
: composed of sticks and possibly other materials, the nest is around one metre and a half in total diameter and is usually constructed in tall trees, often around fifteen metres high. The variety of tree chosen probably varies greatly, but they have been observed chiefly in pine trees.
Tyrant Hawk-Eagle, is a species of eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
found from central Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to eastern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, the south of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and far northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Its preferred habitats include humid and moist forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s close to river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s, and several types of woodland. It is uncommon to fairly common throughout most of its range. Its closest relative is the Ornate Hawk-Eagle, which is similar in size, appearance and behavior but lives at lower elevations.
The Black Hawk-Eagle is 58–70 cm (23–28 in) long and weighs about 900-1,300 grams (2-2.9 lbs). has black plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
with varying patterns on its wings and body, and white speckling in places. It has barred wings, slightly elliptical in shape, and a long, narrow tail which is rarely fanned. The four grey bars on the tail are distinctive to the Black Hawk-Eagle, as is the white line seen slightly above the bird's eye.
While flying, the broadness and shortness of the wings become apparent. While in flight, the bird's tail is typically kept closed.
Diet
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
s, this bird is a powerful predator that frequently hunts relatively large prey. It mainly eats large rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s, opossums and monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
s, as well as, occasionally, bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s and bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s. Its popular name in Brazil is "Gavião-pega-macaco", which means "monkey-catching hawk". The birds it takes can be quite large, such as toucans,and chachalaca
Chachalaca
Chachalacas are mainly brown birds from the genus Ortalis. These cracids are found in wooded habitats in far southern United States , Mexico, and Central and South America. They are social, can be very noisy and often remain fairly common even near humans, as their relatively small size makes them...
s. The dietary habits of the Black Hawk-Eagle, however, remain largely unknown, with no known comprehensive list of prey species.
Breeding
Like its diet, the Black Hawk-Eagle's breeding behaviour is little known other than some details relating to its nestBird nest
A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the...
: composed of sticks and possibly other materials, the nest is around one metre and a half in total diameter and is usually constructed in tall trees, often around fifteen metres high. The variety of tree chosen probably varies greatly, but they have been observed chiefly in pine trees.