Black Hawk-Eagle

The black hawk-eagle is 58–70 cm (23–27.5 in) long and weighs about 900 to 1,300 grams (2.0 to 2.9 pounds). It has black plumage with varying patterns on its wings and body, and white speckling in places. It has barred wings, slightly elliptical in shape, and a long, narrow tail which is rarely fanned. The four grey bars on the tail are distinctive to the black hawk-eagle, as is the white line seen slightly above the bird's eye. While flying, the broadness and shortness of the wings become apparent. While in flight, the bird's tail is typically kept closed.

Though light and small compared to other eagles, this bird is a powerful predator that frequently hunts relatively large prey. It mainly eats large rodents (such as lowland pacas,squirrels), opossums and monkeys (such as howler monkeys, marmosets and squirrel monkeys), as well as, occasionally, bats, birds (even as small as the social flycatcher and passerine nestlings) and some reptiles (such as large lizards, including iguanas, and snakes). Its popular name in Brazil is "Gavião-pega-macaco", which means "hawk catching-monkey". The birds it takes can be quite large, such as toucans, macaws, guans and chachalacas.