Ground Nesting by Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)

Abstract

Large diurnal raptors rarely nest on the ground, except for in areas lacking any elevated nesting substrates. However, rare nesting events have been documented, and species that usually nest on elevated substrates can occasionally be found nesting on the ground.The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) is one of the largest neotropical Buteonines, and is a species that nest mainly in elevated substrates such as trees and cliffs. Here I present the first description of nests built on the ground by thes species.