Photo: Dysmorodrepanis, from original by Mateus Hidalgo / CC BY-SA 2.5 br (Wikimedia Commons)
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Spizaetus ornatus
Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) — Birds of Prey of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Spizaetus
- Species ornatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA se Mexico to n Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 35.3 cm and a tail of around 29 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 9.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ornate Hawk-Eagle?
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Ornate Hawk-Eagle live?
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA se Mexico to n Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Ornate Hawk-Eagle belong to?
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Ornate Hawk-Eagle eat?
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Ornate Hawk-Eagle migrate?
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ornate Hawk-Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Ornate Hawk-Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Ornate Hawk-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 Ornate Hawk-Eagle's range?
The Ornate Hawk-Eagle has a mapped global range of about 9.4 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.