Black-and-chestnut Eagle

Black-and-chestnut Eagle

Spizaetus isidori

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

LCNTVUENEndangeredCR
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Podocarpus National Park

In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%

19 Verified sightings at Podocarpus National Park From 2019 to 2026
58 In all 3 parks
December Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Black-and-chestnut Eagle

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 →

Sounds

Aberrant0:12

Brazil · 2026

© Uillian · XC1138784 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Alarm call0:09

Argentina · 2023

© Carlos Ferrari · XC831466 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Uncertain0:14

Colombia · 2022

© Jorge Luis · XC794440 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
2 Los Nevados National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
3 Podocarpus National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Ukumarí Biopark 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
2 Amaru 🇪🇨 Ecuador In captivity
3 Bioparque Los Ocarros 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
4 Bioparque Wakatá 🇨🇴 Colombia In captivity
5 Wiwa Quito 🇪🇨 Ecuador In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black-and-chestnut Eagle in Podocarpus National Park?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-and-chestnut Eagle sighting in Podocarpus National Park on a given day, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 324th most-seen of the 446 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Black-and-chestnut Eagle in Podocarpus National Park?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-and-chestnut Eagle in Podocarpus National Park on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

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

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.

Is Podocarpus National Park the best place to see a Black-and-chestnut Eagle?

3rd of 3

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Black-and-chestnut Eagle sightings, Podocarpus National Park ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Manu National Park (Peru, about 10%) and Los Nevados National Natural Park (Colombia, under 5%).

Which relatives of the Black-and-chestnut Eagle live in Podocarpus National Park?

Same family: Accipitridae

The closest relatives of the Black-and-chestnut Eagle that you can see in Podocarpus National Park (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are Roadside Hawk (about 10%) and American Swallow-tailed Kite (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Black-and-chestnut Eagle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Black-and-chestnut Eagle is recorded against all the birds logged in Podocarpus National Park (19 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.

← Back to Podocarpus National Park