# Ornate Hawk-Eagle (*Spizaetus ornatus*) The Ornate Hawk-Eagle is a beautiful bird with striking feathers and a sharp beak. It loves to soar high in the sky and can be found in tropical forests, where it hunts for small animals. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Tropical forests ![Ornate Hawk-Eagle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spizaetus_ornatus_crop.png&width=800) Photo: Dysmorodrepanis , from original by Mateus Hidalgo, CC BY-SA 2.5 br · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spizaetus_ornatus_crop.png) ## Appearance The Ornate Hawk-Eagle has striking plumage, featuring a prominent black crest and a dark head with rufous sides. Its underparts are white with intricate black barring, contrasting with its dark brown upperparts. It also has bright yellow feet and a strong yellow cere. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Accipitridae - **Genus:** Spizaetus ## Interesting facts - Female Ornate Hawk-Eagles are noticeably larger and stronger than the males. - Its loud, whistling calls echo through the tropical rainforests where it lives! - These eagles construct enormous stick nests, sometimes over six feet wide and deep! - They grow a fabulous crest of black feathers that can be raised high when excited. ## Special abilities - **Jungle Vision:** Ornate Hawk-Eagle has incredibly sharp eyesight that helps them spot well-camouflaged prey in dense forest. - **Silent Hunter:** Ornate Hawk-Eagle can fly quietly through thick branches to ambush unsuspecting animals from above. - **Powerful Grab:** Ornate Hawk-Eagle has razor-sharp talons that help them firmly grasp and carry their prey through the trees. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 56-68 cm - **Wingspan:** 117-147 cm - **Weight:** 0.9-1.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 120 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 44-48 days ## Diet & Feeding This powerful raptor is a carnivore, hunting a variety of medium-sized mammals and birds in the forest. - **Primary Foods:** Squirrel monkeys, Toucans, Opossums, Curassows, Agoutis, Large rodents - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Squirrel Monkey (*Saimiri sciureus*) — A primary prey item in parts of its range. - **Hunts:** Keel-billed Toucan (*Ramphastos sulfuratus*) — Preys on these colorful birds within the forest canopy. - **Eaten by:** Boa Constrictor (*Boa constrictor*) — Young snakes can be prey for the eagle. - **Hunts:** Brazilian Agouti (*Dasyprocta leporina*) — Hunts these ground-dwelling rodents. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ornate Hawk-Eagle? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ornate Hawk-Eagle? 56-68 cm ### What is Ornate Hawk-Eagle's wingspan? 117-147 cm ### How much does Ornate Hawk-Eagle weigh? 0.9-1.6 kg ### How long does Ornate Hawk-Eagle live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Ornate Hawk-Eagle move? 120 km/h ### What does Ornate Hawk-Eagle eat? This powerful raptor is a carnivore, hunting a variety of medium-sized mammals and birds in the forest. ### Where is Ornate Hawk-Eagle usually found? Tropical forests ## Where to spot - [Pico do Marumbi State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pico-do-marumbi-state-park) — BR · Park ## Watch - [Play video: Ornate Hawk-Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/videos/ornate-hawk-eagle) - [YouTube](https://www.snappit.app/published_manually) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Ornate Hawk-Eagle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ornate-hawk-eagle)