Black Hawk-Eagle

Black Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus tyrannus

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Curitiba

In 3 days ~10%

27 Verified sightings at Curitiba
3,656 In all 46 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Black Hawk-Eagle

The black hawk-eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus), also known as the tyrant hawk-eagle, is a species of eagle found from central Mexico through Central America into the south of Brazil to Colombia, eastern Peru, and as far as northern Argentina. There are two known subspecies, S.t. tyrannus, which is found in Southeastern Brazil and Northeastern Argentina, and the slightly smaller S. t. serus, which can be found elsewhere throughout the species' range. Its preferred habitats include humid and moist forests close to rivers, and several types of woodland. It is uncommon to fairly common throughout most of its range. Its closest relative is the ornate hawk-eagle, which is similar in size, appearance and behavior but lives at lower elevations.

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... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Song0:35

Brazil · 2026

© JAYRSON ARAUJO DE OLIVEIRA · XC1183871 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:59

Brazil · 2025

© Douglas Meyer · XC1148835 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Flight call0:17

Argentina · 2005

© Alejandro Bodrati · XC707448 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
2 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
3 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
4 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
~10%
5 Itatiaia National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
6 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
7 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
8 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
9 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~10%
10 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
11 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
12 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
13 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
14 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
15 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
16 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
17 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
18 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
19 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
20 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
21 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
22 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
23 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
24 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
25 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
27 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
28 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
29 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
30 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
31 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
32 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
33 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
34 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
35 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
36 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
37 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
38 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
39 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
40 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
41 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
42 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
<5%
43 Farallones de Cali National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
44 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
45 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
46 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Campo Grande 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
2 Curitiba 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
3 Valencia 🇻🇪 Venezuela
<5%
4 São Paulo 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
5 Caracas 🇻🇪 Venezuela
<5%
6 Rio de Janeiro 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
7 Panama City 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
8 Medellín 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Parque das Aves 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
2 São Paulo Zoo 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
3 Parque Municipal Summit 🇵🇦 Panama In captivity
4 Ukumarí Biopark 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
5 Parque dos Falcões 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
6 Dallas World Aquarium 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
7 Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro 🇲🇽 Mexico In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black Hawk-Eagle in Curitiba?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Hawk-Eagle sighting in Curitiba on a given day, based on 27 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 181st most-seen of the 247 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Black Hawk-Eagle in Curitiba?

July

In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Hawk-Eagle in Curitiba on a given day, against under 5% in August to June, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Black Hawk-Eagle?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Hawk-Eagle sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Curitiba the best place to see a Black Hawk-Eagle?

Among the best

Of the 8 cities where we can rate Black Hawk-Eagle sightings, Curitiba ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Campo Grande (Brazil, under 5%).

Which relatives of the Black Hawk-Eagle live in Curitiba?

Same family: Accipitridae

The closest relatives of the Black Hawk-Eagle that you can see in Curitiba (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are Roadside Hawk (about 20%), Snail Kite (about 10%) and Long-winged Harrier (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Black Hawk-Eagle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Black Hawk-Eagle is recorded against all the birds logged in Curitiba (27 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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