Spizaetus isidori
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The black-and-chestnut eagle (Spizaetus isidori), also known as Isidor's eagle, is a large South American species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is often placed in the monotypic genus Oroaetus. However, recent genetic testing indicates that this species is fairly closely related to Spizaetus species and thus the species should be included in that genus. The black-and-chestnut eagle is a typical forest raptor, hunting primarily small to medium-sized mammals and birds and constructing a large nest in a tall tree. Unfortunately, the twin causes of habitat destruction and persecution have caused population declines and the black-and-chestnut eagle is considered to be an Endangered species by the IUCN.
Its scientific name was chosen in honour of French zoologist, Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. It is found in humid montane forests, normally at elevations between 1,800 to 2,500 m (5,900 to 8,200 ft), in the Andes from northern Argentina, through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, to Venezuela, with isolated populations in the Venezuelan Coastal Range, Serranía del Perijá and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is generally local and rare... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 2 | Los Nevados National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 3 | Podocarpus National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukumarí Biopark | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 2 | Amaru | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 3 | Bioparque Los Ocarros | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 4 | Bioparque Wakatá | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 5 | Wiwa Quito | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-and-chestnut Eagle sighting in Los Nevados National Natural Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 183rd most-seen of the 424 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February, April and June–August
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-and-chestnut Eagle in Los Nevados National Natural Park on a given day, against under 5% in March, May and September–January, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-and-chestnut 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.
2nd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Black-and-chestnut Eagle sightings, Los Nevados National Natural Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Manu National Park (Peru, about 10%).
Same family: Accipitridae
The closest relatives of the Black-and-chestnut Eagle that you can see in Los Nevados National Natural Park (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (about 20%), Roadside Hawk (about 10%) and Broad-winged Hawk (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-and-chestnut Eagle is recorded against all the birds logged in Los Nevados National Natural Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
