The Crested Eagle is a large raptor of mature forests and foothills in Central and South America. It often perches in the canopy and can be difficult to spot.
The more frequently seen light morph is gray above and whitish below, with a short crest. A dark morph also occurs but is rare.
It spends much of its time perched in the canopy, and is seen in flight less often. Its habit of sitting high in mature forest is a useful clue for observers.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.