Distribution and ecology Black-and-white hawk-eagle

a rescued animal, photo taken in captivity in argentina

it nests in forest canopy, building stick nest high in exposed trees on ridges , similar locations, hunting grounds can watched. detailed observations on nesting habits non-existent however. in panama, birds started construct nest in september, during dry spell in rainy season. main nesting season may start before onset of rainy season nesting attempt abandoned when heavy rains recommenced. scant other data agrees this, , @ least in central america nesting season seems run march june or so.

there general lack of information on black-and-white hawk-eagle s movements , population status. each bird seems require hunting territory of 3,500 acres (1,400 hectars) @ least. while variety of habitat types in found suggests not particularly susceptible changes in land use, apparently still rare , local species anywhere in range. iucn until 2000 classified near threatened species due uncertainties surrounding status, no evidence of marked decline has been found , bird found across wide range, downlisted species of least concern.

taxonomy , systematics

this species placed in monotypic genus spizastur, has been moved spizaetus e.g. american ornithologists union, appears ornate hawk-eagle (s. ornatus) sister taxon. has created quite taxonomic confusion, has largely gone unnoticed however:

originally, name spizaetus melanoleucus given louis jean pierre vieillot black-chested buzzard-eagle in 1819, while black-and-white hawk-eagle had been described in 1816 same scientist buteo melanoleucus. former species placed in geranoaetus – monotypic genus – in 1844, while black-and-white hawk-eagle had been moved out of buteo , spizastur few years earlier.

thus, identical specific epithets never came direct conflict until recently. black-chested eagle-buzzard s placement in monotypic genus disputed, , several authors treated in buteo. however, overlooked buteo melanoleucus original name of black-and-white hawk-eagle , senior homonym not applied later-described species. correct specific name black-chested eagle-buzzard when placed in buteo, buteo fuscescens, reestablished in mid-20th century short time more accident else; late-20th-century researchers argued retaining geranoaetus, name dismissed erroneous , forgotten.

as black-and-white hawk-eagle has not been placed in buteo since long, article 59.3 of iczn code applies. according this, junior homonym replaced before 1961 not rendered permanently invalid (as junior homonyms are) if substitute name not in use – has been case after amadon s 1963 revision. hence, in case scientific name buteo melanoleucus can apply black-chested eagle-buzzard, though black-and-white hawk-eagle described under name earlier, while senior homonym melanoleucus still applies latter species when placed in spizaetus according usual iczn rules. consequently, proper name use each bird has through number of coincidences become senior synonym of other species.