Aguja

Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Wingspan

150–200cm

Body length

60–75cm

Weight

1,700–2,300g

Profile

Life expectancy
Clutch size: 1–3 eggs
Global status
Activity
Migration

Identification

The very broad chest, long, broad wings and a short tail give the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle an almost triangular silhouette. Adults show a dark breast above a paler belly; juvenile plumage is more heavily patterned brown.

Colours

Plumage

Eyes

Legs & feet

Adult

A dark breast shield stands out against the pale belly. Both sexes wear the grey-and-white adult plumage; females are larger on average.

Behaviour

On slopes and over open uplands it uses updrafts for long soaring flights. From a distance it therefore often looks eagle-like. Rocks and other raised points are also used as perches.

Breeding & rearing

The nest is a large structure of sticks, built on rocks or in trees. Both partners share incubation and feeding the young. The brown juveniles only acquire their typical contrasting adult colouring later.

Diet

Prey examples

Mice

Rabbits

Hares

Mammals such as rodents and rabbits are often the main prey. Birds, reptiles, insects and occasionally carrion broaden the diet.

Hunting

Search flight Scavenging

It circles in rising air over slopes and grassland, searching for small mammals. It follows spotted prey in gliding flight and strikes on the ground.

Distribution

Range

South America

Habitat

Open mountain slopes, grassland and dry steppes; from the Andean highlands to southern lowlands.

Open mountain slopes with rocks and alpine meadows — Mountains

Vast dry grassland with low hills — Steppes