Photo: Estúdio Anderson Mello / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) — Birds of Prey of South America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 2.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Geranoaetus
- Species melanoleucus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.4 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Venezuela to s Chile and se.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.4 kg, with a wing length of about 49.6 cm and a tail of around 21.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle?
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 2.4 kg.
Where does the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle live?
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle is found across South America with a range covering SA Venezuela to s Chile and se, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle belong to?
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle eat?
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle migrate?
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle's range?
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle has a mapped global range of about 6.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.