It has black plumage with varying patterns on its wings and body, and white speckling in places. It has barred wings, slightly elliptical in shape, and a long, narrow tail which is rarely fanned. The four grey bars on the tail are distinctive to the Black Hawk-Eagle, as is the white line seen slightly above the bird's eye. While flying, the broadness and shortness of the wings become apparent. While in flight, the bird's tail is typically kept closed.
Diet
Though light and small compared to other members of its genus, this bird mainly eats opossums and monkeys, as well as, occasionally, small bats and birds. Its popular name in Brazil is "Gavião-pega-macaco", which means "monkey-catching hawk". The birds it takes can be quite large, such as toucans,and chachalacas.[ The dietary habits of the Black Hawk-Eagle, however, remain mostly unknown, with very few records of the bird eating.
Breeding
