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Difference between revisions of "Gray Hawk" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Alternative name: Gray-lined Hawk<br>'''
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[[Image:Grey_hawk_mexico.jpg‎|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|gatafrancesca|gatafrancesca}}<br /> Huatulco, Oaxaca, [[Mexico]], October 2006]]
;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] nitidus
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;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] plagiatus
[[Image:Grey-lined_Hawk.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by Glen Tepke<br />Locality: Old Gamboa Road, Panama (race ''costaricensis'').]]
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Adults are generally easily recognized by the gray-and-white barred underparts and broadly white-banded black tail.
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38–43 cm<br />
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'''Adults''' are generally easily recognized by the gray-and-white barred underparts and broadly white-banded black tail.<br />
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'''Juveniles''' have mostly brown upperside with a paler area on the central (folded) wing. Sides of head is white with bold black stripes and underside is white with bold brown spots. These may organize into stripes on upper breast and barring on lower breast while they are absent in the vent area.
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====Similar species====
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Notice the wings on the flying bird have some similarity to [[Broad-winged Hawk]]. Primary 6 generally more pronounced giving a 5 fingered appearance.The coloration of the adult is fairly unique within the range except in [[Costa Rica]] where [[Gray-lined Hawk]] may overlap in the central or southern part of the country<sup>[[#References|[6]]]</sup>.
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[[Image:Gray Hawk Arizona.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by &copy; {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Rio Rico, Santa Cruz County, [[Arizona]], [[USA]], May 2011]]
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
Found in the lowlands of the SE U.S. to N. Argentina and Brazil. Northern range occupied by ''plagiatus'': SE U.S. through Mexico and N. Central America, south to NW Costa Rica. Other races found from SW Costa Rica, through Panama and most of lowland N. and C. South America, as far south as SW Ecuador on the Pacific coast and N. Argentina east of the Andes.
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Found from southern [[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]] and [[Texas]] through [[Mexico]] and [[Central America]] south to [[Costa Rica]] where this form is found in large parts of the Caribbean lowlands and south to at least Jaco on the Pacific side. <br />
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
[[Image:Grey_hawk_mexico.jpg‎|thumb|425px|right|Photo by gatafrancesca<br />Locality: Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico (race ''plagiatus'').]]
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species.
====Subspecies====
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*''B. n. plagiatus'' - Larger, darker and with more uniform upperparts than the following.
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It was formerly considered [[Dictionary A-C#C|conspecific]] with [[Gray-lined Hawk]].
*''B. n. costaricensis''
 
*''B. n. nitidus'' - Nominate race.
 
*''B. n. pallidus''
 
  
 
====''Asturina'' vs. ''Buteo''====
 
====''Asturina'' vs. ''Buteo''====
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[[Image:Juvie_Gray_Hawk_portrait_P1200153.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Juvenile <br />Photo by &copy; {{user|NJLarsen|Niels Larsen}}<br />Filipe Puerto Carrillo, QRoo, [[Mexico]], 25 September 2015]]
 
Formerly placed in the monotypic genus ''[[:Category:Asturina|Asturina]]''. Riesing ''et al.'' (2003) presented genetic data indicating that ''Asturina'' is nested within ''Buteo''. This reclassification is supported by virtually all authorities since then: Banks et al. (2006), AOU (2006 supplement), Clements (2007), SACC (2006). The Opus follows in this consensus.
 
Formerly placed in the monotypic genus ''[[:Category:Asturina|Asturina]]''. Riesing ''et al.'' (2003) presented genetic data indicating that ''Asturina'' is nested within ''Buteo''. This reclassification is supported by virtually all authorities since then: Banks et al. (2006), AOU (2006 supplement), Clements (2007), SACC (2006). The Opus follows in this consensus.
  
====One or two species?====
 
The taxon ''plagiatus'' was originally considered (and described as) a species, but some later authorities preferred to considered it a subspecies, often without published rationale, notably Peters (1931), which to various extent formed a basis for most later check lists. Sibley & Monroe (1990) returned to the original status in listing ''plagiatus'' as a species, but - just as earlier authorities generally provided little or no published evidence for changing ''plagiatus'' to subspecies status - Sibley & Monroe did not publish their rationale for considering it a species. Riesing ''et al.'' (2003), Howard & Moore (2003), and Clements (2007) do not recognize ''plagiatus'' as a full species, and the Opus follows in this consensus. If split, the following names and subspecies are assigned to the two:
 
 
* Gray Hawk (''Buteo plagiatus''). Monotypic.
 
 
* Gray-lined Hawk (''Buteo nitidus''). In addition to the nominate race, it includes races ''costaricensis'' and ''pallida''.
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Woodland and forest, but sometimes in more open habitats with scattered trees. Mainly in lowlands, but locally up to 1800 m (5900 ft). Generally fairly common, but rarer in its limited US range.
 
Woodland and forest, but sometimes in more open habitats with scattered trees. Mainly in lowlands, but locally up to 1800 m (5900 ft). Generally fairly common, but rarer in its limited US range.
  
 
==Behavior==
 
==Behavior==
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====Diet====
 
Feeds on a wide range of small animals, mostly reptiles, but also birds, rodents and insects.
 
Feeds on a wide range of small animals, mostly reptiles, but also birds, rodents and insects.
 
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker12V3.2}}#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=196527 Birdforum thread] discussing the taxonomy of Gray Hawk
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#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=214277 Birdforum thread] discussing AOU proposals including one to split Gray Hawk in two parts
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#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2014)
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#[https://ebird.org/camerica/news/was-that-a-gray-hawk-or-a-gray-lined-hawk-i-just-saw/?lang=en Identification essay] comparing Gray with Gray-lined Hawk
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#[http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/researchers/uploads/155/millsap_et_al._gray_hawk.pdf Paper] describing the differences between Gray Hawk and Gray-lined Hawk
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Buteo+nitid}}
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{{GSearch|Buteo+plagiatus}}
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Buteo]]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Buteo]]

Latest revision as of 05:42, 25 April 2020

Photo © by gatafrancesca
Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico, October 2006
Buteo plagiatus

Identification

38–43 cm
Adults are generally easily recognized by the gray-and-white barred underparts and broadly white-banded black tail.
Juveniles have mostly brown upperside with a paler area on the central (folded) wing. Sides of head is white with bold black stripes and underside is white with bold brown spots. These may organize into stripes on upper breast and barring on lower breast while they are absent in the vent area.

Similar species

Notice the wings on the flying bird have some similarity to Broad-winged Hawk. Primary 6 generally more pronounced giving a 5 fingered appearance.The coloration of the adult is fairly unique within the range except in Costa Rica where Gray-lined Hawk may overlap in the central or southern part of the country[6].

Photo by © Stanley Jones
Rio Rico, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, USA, May 2011

Distribution

Found from southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas through Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica where this form is found in large parts of the Caribbean lowlands and south to at least Jaco on the Pacific side.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

It was formerly considered conspecific with Gray-lined Hawk.

Asturina vs. Buteo

Juvenile
Photo by © Niels Larsen
Filipe Puerto Carrillo, QRoo, Mexico, 25 September 2015

Formerly placed in the monotypic genus Asturina. Riesing et al. (2003) presented genetic data indicating that Asturina is nested within Buteo. This reclassification is supported by virtually all authorities since then: Banks et al. (2006), AOU (2006 supplement), Clements (2007), SACC (2006). The Opus follows in this consensus.

Habitat

Woodland and forest, but sometimes in more open habitats with scattered trees. Mainly in lowlands, but locally up to 1800 m (5900 ft). Generally fairly common, but rarer in its limited US range.

Behavior

Diet

Feeds on a wide range of small animals, mostly reptiles, but also birds, rodents and insects.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2012. IOC World Bird Names (version 3.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  3. Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Gray Hawk
  4. Birdforum thread discussing AOU proposals including one to split Gray Hawk in two parts
  5. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2014)
  6. Identification essay comparing Gray with Gray-lined Hawk
  7. Paper describing the differences between Gray Hawk and Gray-lined Hawk

Recommended Citation

External Links

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