Justification This species qualifies as Endangered because it has a very small, fragmented population, and the severity of the threats it faces strongly suggest a significant and continuing decline in numbers.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author (Vieillot, 1817)

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 75-85 cm. Large, powerful, crested eagle. Long, broad wings with short tail. Dull slaty-grey, slightly darker on wings. Prominent bushy crest. Dusky tail with white band and tip. Yellowish legs and cere. Immature brown above with creamy head and dark post-ocular stripe. Cream throat and underparts, mottled brown on upper breast. Brown tarsi and mottling in lower belly. Similar spp. Great Black-hawk Buteogallus urubitinga lacks crest, is smaller and shorter-winged. Adult blacker, immature more heavily streaked brown below. Voice Powerful, long high-pitched whistle.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

3,180,000 km²

No

Range & population Harpyhaliaetus coronatus has a very large range in Brazil (from Maranhão and Bahia west to Mato Grosso and south to Rio Grande do Sul), Bolivia (Beni and Santa Cruz), Uruguay (no records since before 1933 and presumably extirpated), Paraguay (has been recorded throughout, except ú12), and Argentina (Jujuy to south Buenos Aires and La Pampa with an accidental record in Neuquén^3,4,5). Trends are difficult to detect in low density populations but, given the severity of threats, it seems likely that a significant loss of numbers is occurring. In Paraguay it appears to be most numerous in the Cerrado of Concepción department; it also continues to be recorded in humid Chaco habitat and there are recent records from number of sites in dry Chaco¹².

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It inhabits lowland areas of semi-open seasonal dry country (palm-savanna, sparse woodland, steppes with bushes), chaco and campo cerrado (from campo limpo to cerrado sensu stricto). It sometimes occurs in moderate altitude hill-ranges in south-east Brazil and Argentina and has also been reported in caatinga, gallery forest, marsh and buriti groves. In Paraguay there are a number of recent records from extensive cattle ranches¹². Reported foods include mammals, birds, reptiles, carrion and fish². A large platform nest is situated in trees or ravines and one egg is laid. Its movements are poorly understood, and it may be partially crepuscular.

Threats Habitat destruction and hunting are the most pertinent threats. In Brazil, campo cerrado habitats are being rapidly destroyed by mechanised agriculture, intensive cattle-ranching, afforestation, invasive grasses, excessive use of pesticides and annual burning^6,9. The situation is similar in much of Paraguay, but habitat remains fairly intact in Concepción, where direct persecution is probably more significant. Chaco habitats are more intact, but increasing colonisation is destroying wooded areas and grassland. Persecution, including shooting and deliberate disturbance, may be a significant threat in central Argentina¹¹, but recent records from Paraguay indicate that the species may be able to use extensive cattle ranches where it is not subjected to disturbance¹².

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. It is protected in Argentina and Paraguay¹², and hunting is prohibited in Brazil and Paraguay. There are few records from protected areas, but it has been found in 10 reserves in Argentina¹, and small populations probably exist in Chapada dos Veadeiros¹⁰, Emas, Brasília, Serra da Canastra⁷ and Chapada dos Guimarães⁸ National Parks, Brazil, and Beni Biological Station, Bolivia.

Conservation measures proposed Survey to identify key populations, especially in the large Brazilian national parks. Study ecological constraints, breeding success and migration/dispersal patterns, possibly using satellite tracking. Enforce legal protection of the species. Organise awareness campaigns to limit hunting near key populations. Organise educational campaigns in areas where persecution is a threat (such as Central Argentina). Promote establishment of ecological corridors in southern Brazil to reduce effects of fragmentation.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Chebez et al. (1998). 2. R. P. Clay in litt. (2000). 3. Delhey and Carrete (1999). 4. Giai (1952). 5. Gonnet and Blendinger (1998). 6. Parker and Willis (1997). 7. Silveira (1998). 8. L. F. Silveira in litt. (1999). 9. Stotz et al. (1996). 10. Wege and Long (1995). 11. Sarasola and Maceda (2006). 12. H. del Castillo in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Juan Mazar Barnett (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Leandro Baumgarten (University of Campinas), Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Andre De Luca (SAVE Brasil), Hugo del Castillo (Guyra Paraguay), Pedro Develey (SAVE Brasil), Luís Fábio Silveira (University of São Paulo)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Harpyhaliaetus coronatus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums