Montane Solitary Eagle
EN

Montane Solitary Eagle

Harpyhaliaetus solitarius

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitary_eagle

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Montane Solitary Eagle faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its montane forest range in Central and South America. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, has eliminated vast areas of suitable nesting habitat. The species' naturally low reproductive rate, with pairs producing only one offspring every two years, makes population recovery extremely slow even when threats are reduced.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Montane Solitary Eagle inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests at elevations between 600-2,200 meters, preferring areas with tall emergent trees suitable for nesting. It requires large territories of intact forest with minimal human disturbance, often utilizing forest edges and clearings for hunting while maintaining nest sites in dense canopy cover.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Montane Solitary Eagle classified as Endangered?
Montane Solitary Eagle is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Montane Solitary Eagle faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its montane forest range in Central and South America. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, has eliminated vast areas of suitable nesting habitat. The species' naturally low reproductive rate, with pairs producing only one offspring every two years, makes population recovery extremely slow even when threats are reduced.
Where does Montane Solitary Eagle live?
Montane Solitary Eagle occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Montane Solitary Eagle?
The main threats to Montane Solitary Eagle are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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