Black hawk-eagle

Ailigandí area, Panama

A captive adult black hawk-eagle.

The black hawk-eagle is 58–70 cm (23–28 in) long and weighs about 900–1,300 grams (2-2.9 lbs). It 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.[8] While in flight, the bird's tail is typically kept closed.[5][7]

Though light and small compared to other eagles, this bird is a powerful predator that frequently hunts relatively large prey. It mainly eats large rodents (such as squirrels), opossums and monkeys (such as howler monkeys, marmosets and squirrel monkeys), as well as, occasionally, bats, birds (even as small as the social flycatcher and passerine nestlings) and some reptiles (such as large lizards, including iguanas, and snakes).[4][9][10][11][12] 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, macaws, guans and chachalacas.[7][13]

Wild juvenile black hawk-eagle.

The black hawk-eagle's breeding behaviour is little known. In a study carried out in Guatemala by The Peregrine Fund, four nests were documented. The average nest height was 25.5m and the nests were all built in lateral limbs away from the center of the tree. All known breeding pairs, both in the wild and in captivity, have laid single egg clutches and the estimating incubation period is 44 days.[6]