From Opus

Buteo albonotatus

Photo by Marysan
Lower bird Zone-tailed Hawk. Photo taken: Escondido, CA.

[edit] Identification

47-55 cm. Black, flight feathers barred with lighter grey ending in a black band, tail has three or four bands or "zones", white from below and light grey from above, yellow cere and legs. Immatures are similar except for small white spots on the breast and tails with narrow grey and black bands and a broad dark tip. Usually seen singly mostly flying low and with wings raised into a dihedral.

[edit] Similar Species

Surprisingly similar to Turkey Vulture, best separated by the dark band on the trailing edge of the wing, and if seen well, by the bands on the tail.

[edit] Distribution

California, Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas to southern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina. Non-migratory in most of its range, usually considered migratory in northern Mexico and the US.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Widely varying habitats: Wet and dry forest from pine to deciduous and evergreen rainforest, to open semi-desert to marsh, mountains to lowland plains. Seems to prefer habitats with water nearby. Reportedly often in areas where Common Black-Hawk also occurs, but then found at higher elevations.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes small vertebrates and birds.

The nest consists of sticks built in the leafy top of a tree or on a cliff. 2-3 white eggs, often marked with brown, are laid.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

• List of references

[edit] External Links