Solitary eagle

The solitary eagle or montane solitary eagle (Buteogallus solitarius) is a large Neotropical eagle. It is also known as the black solitary eagle.

Solitary eagle
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Buteogallus
Species:	B. solitarius
Binomial name
Buteogallus solitarius (Tschudi, 1844)
Subspecies[2]
B. s. sheffleri - (Van Rossem, 1948) B. s. solitarius - (Tschudi, 1844)
Synonyms
Harpyhaliaetus solitarius

Range and 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 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.

Description

The adult solitary eagle is uniformly dark gray, often appearing black, with white markings on the tail. It is 63–76 cm (25 to 30 inches) long, weighs 2.75 kg (6 lbs), and has a 152–188 cm (60 to 74 inch) wingspan. 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.

The juvenile is mottled brown and tan, with markings around the eyes. It otherwise resembles the adult.

Relationships

Recent DNA studies have shown that the solitary eagle is closely related to the black-hawks.[3]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Buteogallus solitarius". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T22695849A93530532. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695849A93530532.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
2. Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
3. Lerner, Heather R. L.; Klaver, Matthew C.; Mindell, David P. (April 2008). "Molecular Phylogenetics of the Buteonine Birds of Prey (Accipitridae)" (PDF). The Auk. 125 (2): 304–315. doi:10.1525/auk.2008.06161. Retrieved 8 November 2015.

• Howell, Steve N.G., and Sophie Webb. "A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America." Oxford University Press, New York, 1995. (ISBN 0-19-854012-4)
• Jones, H. Lee. Birds of Belize. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, 2003.
• "Raptors of the World" by Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, Mead & Burton. Houghton Mifflin (2001), ISBN 0-618-12762-3.

Further reading

• Novy, S.A. and R.D. Van Putte. 2016. Behavioral Notes and Nesting of the Black Solitary Eagle (Buteogallus solitarius) in Belize. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science, Vol. 109, pp. 29–33.