Plate 009 · soaring on the slope wind IdentificationFive marks on the plate
- 1Black chest contrasting with the white belly.
- 2White underwing coverts finely barred.
- 3Dark trailing edge on grey flight feathers.
- 4Very short wedge-shaped tail, black with a grey tip.
- 5Broad, almost triangular wings, with black tips.
Easily confused with Variable HawkGeranoaetus polyosomaSmaller, with a longer white tail and black band. Black-and-chestnut EagleSpizaetus isidoriAdult black and chestnut, with a long tail. Very rare. 009 / 100 · BIRDS · ACCIPITRIDAELEAST CONCERN Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Águila mora
The big raptor seen above the ridges of Tucumán. It soars on the slope winds without flapping, on broad wings with a very short tail. It hunts cavies, hares and birds, and also eats carrion.
- Length
- c. 62 – 80 cm
- Wingspan
- c. 1.5 – 2 m
- Altitude
- 500 – over 3,500 m
- Nest
- Stick platform on cliffs or trees
- Large raptor
- Soarer
- Cavy hunter
- Open slopes
Altitude rangeAbove every belt
Hunts and soars It prefers open slopes, ravines and high grassland, where the wind helps it soar. It flies over the forest but hunts mostly in open country.
FoodAn opportunistic hunter
- Cavies and rodentsmain prey
- Hares and rabbitsin open country
- Birdstinamous, pigeons
- Reptileslizards and snakes
- Carrionoccasional
It hunts from high soaring flight or hangs in the wind, then stoops onto its prey.
BehaviourMaster of the wind
- Rides slope winds. Hangs almost still in the air on wind rising up the hillside.
- In pairs. Pairs are often seen together and reuse the same nest for years.
- Stoops on prey. Folds its wings and drops onto the ground.
Where to look in Tucumán- Sierra de San Javier
- Tafí del Valle (RP 307)
- PN Aconquija
- Cuesta del Clavillo
- Los Ñuñorcos