Aigle solitaire

Buteogallus solitarius

Rare. Très grand aigle à queue courte des forêts de haute altitude et de piémont. Comme de nombreux rapaces, il plane principalement en fin de matinée et est très rarement observé posé. De nombreux signalements d'Aigle solitaire se réfèrent à des Buses noires communes mal identifiées, qui ont également un plumage noirâtre et une seule bande caudale blanche sur leur courte queue. L'aigle est beaucoup plus grand, avec des pattes plus épaisses, et des pieds qui atteignent presque l'extrémité de la queue en vol. L'Aigle solitaire adulte est gris ardoise (contre noirâtre chez les buses noires). L'immature a une queue brunâtre à motif diffus et des cuisses sombres, contrairement aux buses noires.

Identification

The adult solitary eagle is uniformly dark gray, often appearing black, with white markings on the tail. It is 63 to 79 cm (25 to 31 in) and has a 152 to 188 cm (5 ft 0 in to 6 ft 2 in) wingspan. With a body mass of approximately 3 kg (6.6 lb), it appears to rival its similarly-weighted sister species, the Chaco eagle, as the largest living member of the Buteoninae subfamily, although the black-chested buzzard-eagle is similar or only marginally smaller in weight. It appears very similar to the common black hawk and great black hawk, but is much larger and has significantly broader wings, extending nearly to the tip of the tail. The exceptionally broad wings are one of the prime distinguishing characteristics of this species. Its body also has quite a thickset appearance.<p>The juvenile is mottled brown and tan, with markings around the eyes. It otherwise resembles the adult.

Taxonomie

Nom scientifique
Buteogallus solitarius
Autorité
(Tschudi, 1844)
Ordre
Accipitriformes
Famille
Accipitridés
Genre
Buteogallus

Répartition et habitat

The solitary eagle is native to Mexico and Central and South America. It is found in mountainous or hilly forests, at elevations between 600 m and 2,200 m. The frequent reports from lowlands are usually misidentifications of another species, usually the common black hawk or great black hawk; no reports from lowlands have been confirmed. It is rare that in all areas of its range and poorly known. Very little is known about its diet, other than that it appears to have often been predating large snakes and one adult pair was seen hunting deer fawns. The remains of a chachalaca were noted in one nest.

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Tendance de la population
declining

Photos

Distribution

Chants d'Oiseaux

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