- Spizastur melanoleucus
Identification
50-60 cm. White head, neck and body, small crest forms a black spot on top of the head, black around the eyes, particularly towards the bill, black wings, brownish tail barred black-dark grey and with white tip, orange iris, pale to bright yellow feet with black talons, black bill with a yellow cere. Sexes similar, but female larger.
Immature birds - pale edges on upperwing coverts, brownish-grey back.
Distribution
Occurs in Mexico, in Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas and rarely Yucatan, in Central America south to Panama and in South America from Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas south to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Rare over most of range. Resident.
Taxonomy
This monotypic species has been proposed moved from genus Spizastur to Spizaetus.
Habitat
Forest from sea-level up to 1,500m, also forest edge and riverine woodland.
Behaviour
The diet includes mammals, toads, and a wide variety of birds.
It nests in the forest canopy, building a stick nest high up in exposed trees on ridges.
