Black-chested buzzard-eagle

The black-chested buzzard-eagle, also known as the black buzzard-eagle, grey buzzard-eagle, or Chilean blue eagle, is an intriguing bird of prey indigenous to South America. This remarkable bird features a wingspan ranging from 149 to 200 centimeters and weighs between 1.67 to 3.17 kilograms. Adult birds are easily identifiable by their white undersides and dark grey upperparts.

Juvenile buzzard-eagles bear a striking resemblance to the great black hawk, and they do not acquire their full adult plumage until they are about 4 to 5 years old. These birds are not very vocal, but you may hear them calling during flight or when they are near their nests. In flight, they can be recognized by their short, wedge-shaped tails and distinctive white underparts with a dark chest band.

Scientifically, this bird is known as Geranoaetus melanoleucus, which translates to "black-and-white crane-eagle." It is closely related to Buteo hawks and is sometimes classified in the genus Geranoaetus. There are two subspecies of this bird: the Eastern and Western black-chested buzzard-eagle.

These buzzard-eagles prefer mountainous or hilly regions with sparse vegetation. Their diet mainly consists of medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, and even carrion. When it comes to nesting, they are quite adaptable, choosing trees, cliffs, or even the ground as their nesting sites. Despite facing challenges such as poisoning in some areas, they are classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN.