From Opus

Buteo jamaicensis

Photo by gene. Location: Illinois, USA

Photo by Gary Clark.
Location: Nevada, USA

[edit] Identification

Adult: Length 48cm (19in). Wingspan 125cm (49in). A large, stocky hawk with a whitish breast with dark band, (usually rusty tail, and dark leading edge on wing (Seen during flight). Immature: Duller, more streaked, and light brown tail with some dark barring. This species is quite variable in colour, especially in the western U.S., where blackish individuals occur; these often retain a rusty or reddish tail. One of the most diagnostic field marks is the "cumberbund"; an area on the middle breast that is usually streaked darker than the rest of the underbody.

[edit] Similar Species

• Swainson's Hawk has darker chest, less stocky build, and narrower, more pointed wings. However, see note under Taxonomy.

[edit] Distribution

Year-round over most of the U.S. and Mexico; summers northward throughout the Canadian Provinces and inland Alaska.

[edit] Taxonomy

Five races: Krider's (krideri) is a pink-tailed Great Plains race; borealis in the east, fuertesi in the Southwest, calurus in the west, and Harlon's Hawk, harlani, a very dark morph easily confused with the Swainson's Hawk.

[edit] Habitat

The most common hawk on the North America continent, B. Jamaicensis frequents woodland edges, soars above plains, and is often seen perched on utility poles where natural perches are not available.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Soars or perches, looking for a wide variety of food; small to medium mammals, lizards, frogs, worms, insects, bats, and small birds.

[edit] Breeding

Monogamous.

[edit] Conservation Status

Common and plentiful, some decline due to habitat loss, although it adapts relatively easily to new environments, even urban. Many are still shot illegally for amusement.

[edit] External Links