Birds
Chaco Eagle
Buteogallus coronatus · also called crowned solitary eagle
Perched alone on a pole across the open Gran Chaco, a chaco eagle faces a risk unique to large raptors of this landscape, electrocution, one of several threats that have made it one of the most endangered birds of prey in South America.
Overview
The chaco eagle, Buteogallus coronatus, also known as the crowned solitary eagle, is an Endangered bird of prey found across open woodland and grassland of the Gran Chaco and Argentine pampas. Thought to number fewer than a few hundred mature individuals, it is one of the most threatened raptors found anywhere on the continent.
Threatened on multiple fronts
Habitat loss, direct persecution by people who mistakenly see it as a danger to livestock, and electrocution on poorly insulated power poles have combined to push the chaco eagle’s population into steep decline across its South American range.
Status
Endangered, with a small and declining population scattered across the Gran Chaco and Argentine pampas, facing continued pressure from habitat loss, persecution, and power-line electrocution.
Chaco Eagle: common questions
Why is the chaco eagle also called the crowned solitary eagle?
Both names refer to the same species, Buteogallus coronatus; crowned solitary eagle is an alternative common name reflecting its short head crest and its tendency to hunt and perch alone.
Why is the chaco eagle endangered?
Habitat loss across the Gran Chaco and pampas, direct persecution by people who mistakenly see it as a livestock threat, and electrocution on poorly insulated power poles have combined to push its population sharply down.
What does the chaco eagle eat?
It is a carnivore, hunting armadillos, reptiles, and other medium-sized animals across open woodland and grassland.
How many chaco eagles are left?
The species is thought to number fewer than a few hundred mature individuals across its entire range, making it one of the most threatened raptors in South America.