Spizaetus melanoleucus

The Black-and-white Hawk-eagle is a bird of prey species in the eagle and hawk family . It is found throughout a large part of tropical America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.

The Spizaetus melanoleucus is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Originally, the name Spizaetus melanoleucus was given by Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot to the Black-chested Buzzard-eagle in 1819, while the Black-and-white Hawk-eagle had been described in 1816 by the very same scientist as Buteo melanoleucus. The former species was placed in Geranoaetus – also a monotypic genus – in 1844, while the Black-and-white Hawk-eagle had been moved out of Buteo and into Spizastur a few years earlier. Thus, the identical specific names never came into direct conflict until recently. More