Abstract

The Crowned Solitary Eagle: status, environmental requirements and distribution
Track: Environmental Management
Authors: Nicolas Lois

The Crowned Solitary Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus) is one of the most threatened species in the Neotropics. Little is known on its general biology and its true distribution. This eagle inhabits 3 million square kilometers of open landscapes in South America. However, its density is low and the total individuals estimate is 350 – 1500. Also, the reproductive output for this species is low; it lays only one egg every two years.
The main threat that jeopardizes the sustainability of wild populations is human pressure (especially habitat degradation and hunting). These facts, jointly with its life history turn this eagle's situation into a precarious one.
Knowing the distribution of an endangered species is a key matter for its management. As a result, habitat surveys, satellite and radio tracking information are being analyzed together with birders' observations to update its distribution map and generate habitat use models.