Common Black Hawk - BirdForum Opus

Buteogallus anthracinus

Photo by bobsofpa

Identification

Length 50-58cm (20-23"), wingspan 122-127cm (48-50") As the name implies, this is a very dark hawk; dark brown to almost black, with a yellow bill tipped in black, and some white spotting on the base of the primary flight feathers, and at the tip of the tail. Most easily identified by chunky shape and broad white band crossing middle of tail.

Distribution

Year-round resident of coastal areas of Mexico, with summer range extending northward to extreme southeast Arizona. Also seen along border section of Rio Grande River, notably in Big Bend NP, in winter. Very rare visitor to lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia-> Phylum: Chordata-> Class: Aves -> Order: Falconiformes-> Family: Accipitridae-> Genus: Buteogallus-> Species:B. anthracinus

Habitat

Nests most commonly in cottonwood trees in riparian area.

Behaviour

Gentle and lethargic except while nesting, when it often drops out of the skies from great height.

Conservation Status

Rare and local; Declining in North America, with an estimated 250 breeding pairs remaining. Will abandon nest if disturbed too much.

External Links

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