A hundred birds or more: Large-scale assessment of raptor electrocutions across Argentina

• In six years, 160 individuals of 18 bird species died by electrocution in Argentina. • The Black-chested Buzzard-eagle ( Geranoaetus melanoleucus ) was the most affected species. • The endangered Chaco Eagle ( Buteogallus coronatus ) was the third most affected species. • Most electrocution events occurred at designs made of concrete. • Jumper wires and grounding systems may have increased the risk of electrocution. Electrocution on power lines is a major bird mortality source and an important global conservation issue. However, avian electrocution studies are scarce in large regions such as the Neotropical area. Here we evaluate electrocutions recorded across eight provinces of Argentina from 2019 to 2025 and address the characteristics of the poles involved in these events. 160 birds of 18 species were found electrocuted, of which 150 individuals belong to 12 raptor species. The species most affected by this human-induced cause of mortality were the Black-chested Buzzard-eagle ( Geranoaetus melanoleucus ) -most of which were immatures-, the Variable Hawk ( G. polyosoma ), the Black Vulture ( Coragyps atratus ), and the endangered Chaco Eagle ( Buteogallus coronatus ). We also document for the first time the electrocution of six new bird species. Most electrocutions occurred in winter, and at poles of steel-reinforced concrete, of three-phase power lines with pin insulators and the wires over concrete crossarms. Other recurring characteristics in deadly poles included jumper wires over the crossarms and/or lightning rods in both single- and three-phase power lines. Except a case of electrocution at a pole retrofitted with a useless supplementary perch, none of them had any electrocution mitigation measures (e.g., insulators) implemented. Given the severity of this source of mortality and the increasing knowledge of the pole characteristics that provoke bird electrocution, we propose a large-scale collaborative dataset of avian electrocution, and we urge authorities, lawmakers, and energy companies to implement effective mitigation measures at risky poles and to develop bird-friendly designs for future power lines.