Birds
Crested Eagle
Morphnus guianensis
Deep within intact Amazonian rainforest, a crested eagle raises its long crest into a striking fan, a slender relative of the harpy eagle rarely glimpsed even by researchers working within its own range.
Overview
The crested eagle, Morphnus guianensis, is a Near Threatened bird of prey found across lowland rainforest from Central America through much of the Amazon basin. A close relative of the harpy eagle but more lightly built, it depends on large tracts of intact forest to hunt the snakes, mammals, and birds that make up its diet.
A harpy eagle’s quieter relative
While the harpy eagle is famous as one of the most powerful raptors on Earth, its relative the crested eagle lives a far quieter, less-studied existence, occurring at low density within dense forest where it is rarely observed even by those searching for it.
Status
Near Threatened, with a declining population as the lowland rainforest it depends on continues to be cleared and fragmented across its Amazon basin range.
Crested Eagle: common questions
How is the crested eagle related to the harpy eagle?
Both belong to the same eagle lineage and share a broadly similar large size and forest-hunting lifestyle, but the crested eagle has a notably slimmer, more lightly built frame than its heavier relative.
Why is the crested eagle rarely seen?
It occurs at low population density and spends much of its time within dense forest canopy, making direct sightings uncommon even in areas where it is present.
What does the crested eagle eat?
It is a carnivore, hunting snakes, mammals, and birds within the lowland rainforest it inhabits.
Why is the crested eagle Near Threatened?
It depends on large tracts of intact lowland rainforest to find enough prey, making it vulnerable to the ongoing deforestation and fragmentation occurring across much of its Amazon basin range.